79
x) Permanent educational programs on human rights within the Armed Forces
247. The Commission asked that the Court order the State to implement permanent
educational programs on human rights within the Mexican Armed Forces, for all ranks,
which should include special mention of international human rights instruments,
specifically those related to the protection of women’s rights, inter alia, their right to live
without violence, and to non-discrimination.
248. The State presented information on the human rights training programs and
international humanitarian law programs implemented by the Mexican Secretariat of
National Defense. Likewise, it indicated the creation of the General Office of Human
Rights of said Secretariat, responsible for promoting a culture of human rights within the
Armed Forces and to follow the complaints and recommendations that the National
Human Rights Commission puts forward for the probable violations of human rights
imputed to military personnel. Regarding a gender-based perspective, it manifested that
said Secretariat is currently developing a Training and Sensitization Program for GenderBased Perspectives.
249. The Court assesses the information offered by the State regarding the training
programs. This Court considers it important to develop the State’ institutional capacities
by training members of the Armed Forces on the principles and norms for the protection
of human rights and on the limits to which they should be subject,287 in order to avoid a
repetition of acts such as those that occurred in the present case. To this end, the State
must implement, within a reasonable period of time, a permanent program or course of
obligatory human rights training, that includes, among other topics, the limits in the
interaction between military personnel and the civilian population, gender, and
indigenous rights, for members of the Armed Forces in all hierarchical ranks.
xi) Medical and psychological care
250. The Commission asked the Court to order the State to adopt measures of medical
and psychological rehabilitation for the victim and her next of kin, which should include
the design and implementation of a mental health care plan, in consensus with mental
health professionals and women victims of rape, for the recuperation, rehabilitation, and
full reinsertion back into her community.
251. The representatives asked the Court to order the State to guarantee to Mrs.
Rosendo Cantú and her daughter, medical and psychological care provided by competent
and trustworthy professionals for both of them, that take into consideration her status as
an indigenous woman victim of violence, her culture, and her address. Moreover, they
requested that the State incur all the all expenses related to treatment, including
transportation or other necessities.
252.
The Court finds, as it has in other cases,288 that a measure of reparation must
be ordered that provides appropriate care for the physical and psychological effects
suffered by the victims, which attend to their gender and ethnicity. Consequently,
having verified the violations and the harm suffered by the victims in the present case,
the Court decides that the State is obliged to provide them, free of charge and
immediately, with the medical and psychological care they require. Prior, clear, and
sufficient information should be offered to the victims so as to obtain their consent.
The treatments should be provided for the time that is necessary, and should include
the provision of medication, and where applicable, transportation, interpreters, and
other costs that are directly related and strictly necessary.
287
288
Cf. Case of the Rochela Massacre, supra note 219, para. 303.
Cf. Case of Barrios Altos, supra note 277, para. 45; Case Chitay Nech et al., supra note 25, para. 255,
and Case of Manuel Cepeda Vargas, supra note 25, para. 235.
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