Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case of the “Mapiripán Massacre” v. Colombia
Judgment of March 7, 2005
(Preliminary Objections)
In the case of the “Mapiripán Massacre”,
the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court” or
“the Court”), composed of the following judges:
Sergio García Ramírez, President;
Alirio Abreu Burelli, Vicepresident;
Oliver Jackman, Judge;
Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, Judge;
Cecilia Medina Quiroga, Judge;
Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge;
Diego García-Sayán, and
Gustavo Zafra Roldán, Judge ad hoc;
Also present,
Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Secretary, and
Emilia Segares Rodríguez, Deputy Secretary;
Pursuant to Articles 37, 53(2), 55, 56 and 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court
(hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”)1, issues the instant Judgment on the
preliminary objections filed by the Colombian State (hereinafter “the State” or
“Colombia”) and its acknowledgment of responsibility.
I
INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE
1.
On September 5, 2003, 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 de Colombia (hereinafter “the State” or
1
The instant Judgment is issued pursuant to the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights during its XLIX Regular Session in its November 24, 2000 Ruling, which entered
into force on June 1, 2001, and in accordance with the partial amendment adopted by the Court during its
LXI Regular Session in its November 25, 2003 Ruling, in force since January 1, 2004.