consequently, they must be substantively and formally established by law, 425 pursue a
legitimate aim, and comply with the requirements of suitability, necessity and
proportionality. 426 In the instant case, the Court has underlined that the “absolute right to
life of the embryo” as grounds for the restriction of the rights involved, is not supported by
the American Convention (supra para. 264); thus, it is not necessary to make a detailed
analysis of each of these requirements, or to assess the disputes regarding the declaration
of unconstitutionality in the formal sense based on the presumed violation of the principle of
legal reserve. Despite the foregoing, the Court considers it appropriate to indicate the way
in which the sacrifice of the rights involved in this case was excessive in comparison to the
benefits referred to with the protection of the embryo 427.
274. To this end, the restriction would have to protect prenatal life significantly, without
annulling the rights to private life and to found a family. In order to weigh these factors the
Court must analyze: (i) the level of harm to one of the rights at stake, determining whether
the level of this harm was serious, intermediate or moderate; (ii) the importance of ensuring
the contrary right, and (iii) whether ensuring the latter justifies restricting the former. 428
275. The European Court of Human Rights has indicated that the possible conflict between
the right to private life, which includes the rights to autonomy and to the free development
of the persona, and “the possibility that, in certain circumstances, safeguards may be
extended to the unborn child [must be] determined by weighing various […] rights or
freedoms claimed by a mother and a father involved in a relationship with one another or
vis-à-vis the foetus.” 429 “This Court has stated that “undue deference for the protection of
prenatal life or on the basis that the right of the future mother to respect for her private life
is of a lower rank, does not constitute a reasonable and proportionate weighing up of
competing rights and interests.” 430 Also, in the case of Costa and Pavan v. Italy, the
European Court considered that the absolute prohibition of pre-implantation diagnosis was
not proportionate, owing to the inconsistent domestic legislation concerning reproductive
rights that, while prohibiting the pre-implantation diagnosis, permitted the termination of the
pregnancy if the fetus subsequently revealed symptoms of a grave illness detectable by preimplantation diagnosis. 431
276. The Court will weigh up the factors analyzing: (i) the severity of the interference that
took place in the rights to private and family life and the other rights involved in the instant
case. In addition, this severity is analyzed based on the disproportionate impact in relation
to: (ii) disability, (iii) gender, and (iv) socio-economic situation. Lastly, the Court will analyze
(v) the dispute on the alleged embryonic loss.
D.1)
Severity of the limitation of the rights involved in this case
425
Cf. The Word “Laws” in Article 30 of the American Convention on Human Rights. Advisory Opinion OC-6/86
of May 9, 1986. Series A No. 6, paras. 35 and 37.
426
Cf. Case of Tristán Donoso v. Panama. Preliminary objection, merits, reparations and costs. Judgment of
January 27, 2009. Series C No.193, para. 56, and Case of Atala Riffo and daughters v. Chile, para. 164.
427
Case of Kimel v. Argentina, para. 83, and Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez, para. 93.
428
Case of Kimel v. Argentina, para. 84.
429
Cf. ECHR, Case of Vo. v. France (No. 53924/00), Judgment of 8 July 2004, para. 80, Case of RR v. Poland
(No. 27617/04), Judgment of 26 May 2011, para. 181
430
Cf. ECHR, Case of A, B and C v. Ireland (No. 25579/05), Grand Chamber. Judgment of 16 December
2010, para. 238.
431
Cf. ECHR, Case of Costa and Pavan v. Italy, (No. 54270/10), Judgment of 28 August 2012, para. 71.