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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I
INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND SUBJECT MATTER OF THE DISPUTE .................................. 5
II
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT........................................................................................... 6
III
JURISDICTION ........................................................................................................................... 8
IV
STATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY ................................................................... 8
A.
Acknowledgement by the State and observations of the Commission and of the
representatives ......................................................................................................... 8
B.
Considerations of the Court ...................................................................................... 12
B.1 The facts ............................................................................................................... 12
B.2 The legal claims ...................................................................................................... 13
B.3 The reparations....................................................................................................... 14
B.4 Assessment of the acknowledgement .......................................................................... 14
V
VI
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION ON THE PARTICIPATION OF J.R. ........................................ 15
A.
Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ........................................................ 15
B.
Considerations of the Court ...................................................................................... 16
EVIDENCE ................................................................................................................................. 18
A.
Documentary, testimonial and expert evidence ........................................................... 18
B.
Admission of the evidence ........................................................................................ 18
B.1 Admission of the documentary evidence ................................................................... 18
B.2 Admission of the testimonial and expert evidence ...................................................... 20
C.
VII
Assessment of the evidence ..................................................................................... 20
FACTS........................................................................................................................................ 21
A.
Context of irregular adoptions in Guatemala at the time of the events ........................... 21
B.
Applicable domestic legal framework at the time of the events ..................................... 26
B.1 Process for the declaration of abandonment ................................................................. 26
B.2 Adoption procedure ................................................................................................. 26
C.
The brothers, Osmín Ricardo Tobar Ramírez and J.R., and their family........................... 28
C.1 Declaration of abandonment of the Ramírez brothers ..................................................... 29
C.2 Application for judicial review of the declaration of abandonment ..................................... 34
C.3 Procedures for the adoption of the Ramírez brothers ...................................................... 38
C.4 Appeals filed following the adoption of the Ramírez children ............................................ 40
VIII
D.
Alleged harassment, aggression and threats against Gustavo Tobar Fajardo ................... 45
E.
Current situation of the Ramírez family ...................................................................... 46
MERITS ..................................................................................................................................... 47
VIII-1 RIGHTS TO FAMILY LIFE AND TO THE PROTECTION OF THE FAMILY, RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD, JUDICIAL GUARANTEES AND JUDICIAL PROTECTION, IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATION
TO RESPECT AND TO ENSURE RIGHTS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AND THE DUTY TO ADOPT
DOMESTIC LEGAL PROVISIONS ........................................................................................................... 47
A.
General considerations on the rights of the child ......................................................... 49
B.
Declaration of abandonment ..................................................................................... 50