Inter-American Court of Human Rights Case of Ximenes-Lopes v. Brazil Judgment of November 30, 2005 (Preliminary Objection) In the case of Ximenes-Lopes, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court”, “the Court” or “the Tribunal”), composed of the following judges: Sergio García-Ramírez, President; Alirio Abreu-Burelli, Vice President; Oliver Jackman, Judge; Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, Judge; Cecilia Medina-Quiroga, Judge; Manuel E. Ventura-Robles, Judge, and Diego García-Sayán, Judge also present, Pablo Saavedra-Alessandri, Secretary, and Emilia Segares-Rodríguez, Deputy Secretary; pursuant to Articles 37, 56 and 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”),1 delivers the following Judgment on the Preliminary Objection raised by Brazil (hereinafter “the State” or “Brazil”). I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE 1. On October 1, 2004, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 50 and 61 of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” or “the American Convention”), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) filed before the Court an application against the State originating in petition No. 12.237, received by the Secretariat of the Commission on November 22, 1999. 1 This judgment is delivered in accordance with the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights at its 49th Regular Session by Resolution dated November 24, 2000, which came into effect on June 1, 2001, and in accordance with the partial amendment adopted by the Court at its 61st Regular Session by Resolution dated November 25, 2003, effective as of January 1, 2004.