Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case of Hilaire v. Trinidad and Tobago
Judgment of September 1, 2001
(Preliminary Objections)
In the Hilaire case,
the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court”,
“the Court” or “the Tribunal”), composed of the following judges: *
Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, President;
Máximo Pacheco-Gómez, Vice-President;
Hernán Salgado-Pesantes, Judge;
Alirio Abreu-Burelli, Judge;
Sergio García-Ramírez, Judge, and
Carlos Vicente de Roux-Rengifo, Judge;
also present,
Manuel E. Ventura-Robles, Secretary, and
Pablo Saavedra-Alessandri, Deputy Secretary;
pursuant to Article 36(6) of its Rules of Procedure 1 (hereinafter “the Rules of
Procedure”), delivers the following judgment on the preliminary objection filed by the
State of Trinidad and Tobago (hereinafter “the State” or “Trinidad and Tobago”).
I
INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE
1)
The present case was submitted to the Court by the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Commission” or “the
Commission”) on May 25, 1999. The Commission’s application originates from
petition number 11,816 (Haniff Hilaire), received by its Secretariat on October 9,
1997.
*
Judge Oliver Jackman informed the Court that because he did not participate in the public
hearing on the preliminary objection in this case, he could not participate in the deliberation and signing
of this judgment.
1
In accordance with the Court’s Order of March 13, 2001 regarding Transitory Provisions of the
Court’s Rules of Procedure, the instant Judgment on preliminary objections is delivered according to the
norms of the Rules of Procedure adopted in the Court’s Order of September 16, 1996.