the scene so as to know the location of each one and the laboratory in charge of them.” It said that the purpose in doing so was to redirect the requests for expert opinions and reports.95 43. The petitioners said that at the time of submitting their observations on the merits of the case in April 2017, they did not have a complete and up-to-date copy of the record of the investigation.96 44. The petitioners said that Vicky's murder was an appalling emotional blow to her mother, whose suffering from the loss of her daughter continues to this day.97 They said quite apart from the close relationship that Mrs. Rosa Argelia enjoyed with her daughter, Vicky's murder worsened her economic situation because Vicky contributed to the upkeep and education of her niece Argelia Johanna Reyes, who remained under the guardianship of her grandmother Rosa Argelia.98 The petitioners say that all three continue to suffer from the emotional harm caused by the violent circumstances of Vicky's trans-femicide.99 They said that those feelings have been aggravated by the authorities' obstruction in the course of the investigation, and that Mrs. Rosa Argelia says that state agents were responsible for her daughter's murder.100 45. The petitioners said that Vicky's trans-femicide had a powerful impact on the sexual diversity community in Honduras. They said that Vicky's fellow activists continue the struggle to bring clarity to the circumstances of her death and helped Vicky's mother to obtain legal representation in 2013 in order to have the case reviewed and to promote access to justice for Vicky and her next-of-kin.101 Six of the seven women who founded Unidad Color Rosa, Colectivo TTT, the group to which Vicky belonged, have been murdered; and of the 27 trans women murdered in Honduras between 2009 and 2012, 15 were activists of that group.102 IV. LEGAL ANALYSIS A. Rights to life,103 humane treatment,104 privacy,105 freedom of expression,106 equality and nondiscrimination107 and to live free from violence108 [Article 4(1), 5(1), 11, 13, 24 and 1(1) of the American Convention and 7(a) and (b) of the Convention of Belém do Pará] 1. General Considerations on right to life and the obligation to respect and ensure rights 46. The Commission recalls that the right to life is a prerequisite for the enjoyment of all other human rights and if it is not respected all other rights are meaningless. 109 Compliance with Article 4, in State's brief of November 3, 2017. Petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 97 Petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 98 Annex 1. Socioeconomic report, Cattrachas, March 2, 2017. Appended to the petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 99 Petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 100 Annex 6. Mission report, October 14-18, 2013. Appended to the petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 101 Annex 6, Mission report, October 14-18, 2013. Appended to the petitioners’ brief of April 21, 2017. 102 REDLACTRANS, La Noche Es Otro País - Impunidad y Violencia contra las Mujeres Transgénero Defensoras de Derechos Humanos en América Latina, 2012, pp. 28-29. 103 Article 4(1). Every person has the right to have his life respected. This right shall be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. 104 Article 5(1). Every person has the right to have his physical, mental, and moral integrity respected. 105The pertinent portions of that article provide: 1. 1.Everyone has the right to have his honor respected and his dignity recognized; 2. No one may be the object of arbitrary or abusive interference with his private life, his family, or his correspondence, or of unlawful attacks on his honor or reputation. 106 The pertinent portions of Article 13 of the American Convention state: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice. 107 Article 24. All persons are equal before the law. Consequently, they are entitled, without discrimination, to equal protection of the law. 108 Article 7 of the Convention of Belém do Pará provides: The States Parties condemn all forms of violence against women and agree to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, policies to prevent, punish and eradicate such violence and undertake to: a. refrain from engaging in any act or practice of violence against women and to ensure that their authorities, officials, personnel, agents, and institutions act in conformity with this obligation; b. apply due diligence to prevent, investigate and impose penalties for violence against women [...]. 109 IACHR, Case 12.270, Report No. 2/15, Merits, Johan Alexis Ortiz Hernández, Venezuela, January 29, 2015, par. 185. 95 96