representative any reasonable expenses that they incur during that procedural stage.132
H.
Reimbursement of expenses to the Victims’ Legal Assistance Fund of the InterAmerican Court
166. In 2008, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States established the Legal
Assistance Fund of the Inter-American Human Rights System “to facilitate access to the interAmerican human rights system by persons who currently lack the resources needed to bring their
cases before the system.”133
167. In a note of the Court’s Secretariat of June 20, 2019, a report was sent to the State on the
disbursements made in application of the Victims’ Legal Assistance Fund in this case which amounted
to US$6,174.66 (six thousand one hundred and seventy four United States dollars and sixty-six
cents) and, as established in Article 5 of the Rules of the Court for the Operation of this Fund,
Argentina was granted a time frame for presenting any observations it deemed pertinent. On July 2,
2019, the State presented a brief in which it indicated that it had no comments to make on the said
report.
168. In light of Article 5 of the Rules of the Fund, based on the violations declared in this judgment
and the fact that the requirements for access to the Fund were met, the Court orders the State to
reimburse the Fund the sum of US$6,174.66 (six thousand one hundred and seventy four United
States dollars and sixty-six cents) for the necessary expenses incurred. This amount must be
reimbursed within six months of notification of this judgment.
I.
Method of complying with the payments ordered
169. The State shall make the payments for non-pecuniary damage and to reimburse costs and
expenses established in this judgment directly to the persons and organizations indicated herein,
within one year of notification of this judgment, pursuant to the following paragraphs.
170. If the beneficiary is deceased or dies before he receives the respective compensation, this shall
be delivered directly to his heirs, in accordance with the applicable domestic law.
171. Regarding the currency for the payment of the compensation and reimbursement of costs and
expenses, the State must comply with its monetary obligations by payment in United States dollars
or, if this is not possible, in the equivalent in Argentine currency, using the highest and most
beneficial rate for the victim permitted by domestic law in force at the time of payment to make the
respective calculation. At the stage of monitoring compliance with judgment, the Court may make a
prudent readjustment of the equivalent amounts in Argentine currency in order to avoid currency
fluctuations substantially affecting the purchasing power of those amounts.
172. If, for causes that can be attributed to the beneficiary of the compensation or his heirs, it is not
possible to pay the amounts established within the time frame indicated, the State shall deposit the
said amounts in their favor in a deposit account or certificate in an Argentine financial institution, in
Cf. Case of Gudiel Álvarez et al. (Diario Militar) v. Guatemala. Interpretation of the judgment on merits, reparations
and costs. Judgment of August 19, 2013. Series C No. 262, para. 62, and Case of Ruiz Fuentes et al. v. Guatemala, supra,
para. 252.
132
AG/RES. 2426 (XXXVIII-O/08), Resolution adopted by the OAS General Assembly at the fourth plenary session of
the 38th regular period of sessions of the OAS held on June 3, 2008, “Establishment of the Legal Assistance Fund of the InterAmerican Human Rights System,” operative paragraph 2(a), and CP/RES. 963 (1728/09), Resolution adopted on November
11, 2009, by the OAS Permanent Council, “Rules of Procedure for the Operation of the Legal Assistance Fund of the InterAmerican Human Rights System,” article 1(1).
133
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