of the need to obtain justice and reparation for the alleged victims. This Court notes with concern that more than 24 years elapsed between the presentation of the initial petition before the Commission, and the submission of the case to the Court, especially since this case includes allegations related to the possible situation of statelessness of one of the alleged victims. 4. Requests of the Commission. The Commission asked this Court to find and declare Argentina to be internationally responsible for the violations contained in the Merits Report, and to order the State to carry out the reparation measures requested. II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT 5. Notification to the State and to the representatives of the alleged victims. On June 14, 2021, the representatives and the State were notified of the fact that the case had been submitted. 6. Brief with pleadings, motions and evidence. On August 12, 2021, the representatives submitted to the Court their brief with pleadings, motions and evidence (hereinafter “pleadings and motions brief”), pursuant to Articles 25 and 40 of the Rules of Procedure. 2 While the representatives were in substantial agreement with the arguments of the Commission, they also offered others relating to the merits of the case. They specifically alleged that the State had violated Article 24 of the American Convention. They also asked that Argentina be ordered to adopt various other reparation measures in addition to those requested by the Commission. 7. Preliminary objections and answering brief. On November 1, 2021, the State presented its preliminary objections brief and its response to the submission of the case and the Merits Report, and the pleadings and motions brief (hereinafter “answering brief”), pursuant to Article 41 of the Court’s Rules of Procedure. 3 8. Briefs with observations on preliminary objections. On December 26, 2021, and January 5, 2022, the representatives and the Inter-American Commission presented their respective observations on the preliminary objections. 9. Call to a hearing. On February 22, 2022, the President of the Court issued an order in which he summoned the parties and the Commission to a public hearing on the preliminary objections and possible merits, reparations and costs, and to hear the final oral arguments and observations of the parties and the Commission, respectively. 4 Due to the exceptional circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the public hearing was held via 2 Carlos Varela Álvarez and Ignacio A. Boulin acted as the alleged victims’ representatives. 3 The State appointed Javier A. Salgado, María Julia Loreto, Andrea Pochak, Gabriela Kletzel, and Rodrigo Robles Tristán as agents in the case. Cf. Case of Habbal et al. v. Argentina. Call to hearing. Order of the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 22, 2022. Available at: https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/asuntos/habbal_22_02_22.pdf. On March 18, 2022, following a request for reconsideration filed by the State, the full Court decided to modify the object of the expert testimony of Mr. Juan Ignacio Mondelli, proposed by the Inter-American Commission. Cf. Case of Habbal et al. v. Argentina. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of March 18, 2022. Available at: https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/asuntos/habbal_y_otros_18_03_22.pdf. 4 4