29 The CEJIL (Center for Justice and International Law) has acted in collaboration with said organizations in the proceedings before the Commission and the Court.38 VII MERITS 52. Next, the Court will determine the scope of the State’s acknowledgment of international responsibility (supra paras. 27 and 30). 53. Article 53(2) of the Rules of Procedure provides as follows: [i]f the respondent informs the Court of its acquiescence to the claims of the party that has brought the case as well as to the claims of the representatives of the alleged victims, their next of kin or representatives, the Court, after hearing the opinions of the other parties to the case, shall decide whether such acquiescence and its juridical effects are acceptable. In that event, the Court shall determine the appropriate reparations and indemnities. 54. In exercise of its contentious jurisdiction, the Inter-American Court applies and interprets the American Convention; where a case has been submitted to its jurisdiction, the Court has the authority to determine the international responsibility of a State Party to the Convention for any violations to the provisions thereof.39 55. In exercise of its inherent powers for the international judicial protection of human rights, the Court may determine whether an acknowledgment of international responsibility by a respondent State provides sufficient grounds, under the American Convention, to proceed with the consideration of the merits of the case and the determination of potential reparations and legal costs. For such purpose, the Court will analyze the situation in each particular case.40 38 Cf. powers of attorney for representation purposes before the Inter-American Court granted by Alejandra Iriarte de Blanco and Gisela Romero to the Vicaría Episcopal (Episcopal Vicarship), the COFAVIC and the CEJIL (Center for Justice and International Law) (file of appendixes to the application, volume II, appendixes 1 to 35, appendix 35, pages 630 G to 630 V); power of attorney for representation purposes before the Inter-American Court granted by Teodora Paz to the Vicaría Episcopal, COFAVIC and CEJIL (file of appendixes to the application, volume II, appendixes 1 to 35, appendix 35, pages 632 to 633); power of attorney for representation purposes before the Inter-American Court granted by Nélida Josefina Fernández-Pelicie to the Vicaría Episcopal, COFAVIC and CEJIL (file of appendixes to the application, volume II, appendixes 1 to 35, appendix 35, pages 635 a 636); power of attorney for representation purposes before the Inter-American Court granted by Roberto Aniceto Hernández, Nélida Hernández-Paz, Mirna Hernández-Paz, Aleidy Hernández-Paz, Reina Altune-Paz, Ramón Alberto Paz, Aida Hernández-Paz and Carlos Paz to the Vicaría Episcopal, COFAVIC and CEJIL (file on the merits of the case and reparations, volume III, pages 512 to 514, 539 to 541 and 549 to 551); power of attorney for representation purposes before the Inter-American Court granted by Eneida Josefina Rivas-Fernández, Yelitza Isabel RivasFernández, Luis Ernesto Rivas-Fernández, Rubén Alexis Rivas-Fernández, Miguel Enrique GalindoFernández and Francisco Jeremías Rivas in his own name and on behalf of his minor son, José Daniel Rivas-Martínez (file on the merits of the case and reparations, volume III, pages 509 to 511, 542 to 548 and 552 to 554); and invoices and receipts submitted as evidence of the expenses incurred by the representatives (file of appendixes to the submission of requests and arguments, volumes II, III, IV and V, pages 3024 to 3268, 3269 to 3528 and 3559 to 4025; and written closing arguments of the representatives, volume IV, appendix J, pages 1210 to 1470). 39 Cf. Case of the “Mapiripán Massacre”, supra note 1, para. 64. 40 Cf. Case of the “Mapiripán Massacre”, supra note 1, para. 65; Case of Huilca-Tecse. Judgment of March 3, 2005. Series C No. 121, para. 42; and Case of Myrna Mack-Chang. Judgment of November 25, 2003. Series C No. 101, para. 105.