64 Background information 134.1 The ‘Panchito López’ Center was under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Labor of Paraguay.60 134.2 The Center was first located in the city of Emboscada, Paraguay, which is some 50 km from Asunción. It was not easily accessible. Subsequently, the State decided to convert that facility into a maximum security prison for adults. With that, the inmates interned at the ‘Panchito López’ Center were moved to a place that was originally built as a private residence in Asunción.61 General conditions of incarceration at the Center 134.3 Having been designed to serve as a residence, the Center did not have the proper infrastructure for a detention facility.62 134.4 The Center was a facility for incarcerating children in conflict with the law. Most of the children at the Center came from marginal sectors of society.63 The inmate population was increasing, giving rise to inmate overcrowding and a lack of security and safety.64 Between August 1996 and July 2001, the population at the 60 Cf. Report of the coordinator of Human Rights of Paraguay (CODEHUPY), “Human Rights in Paraguay, 1996” (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 55, folio 642). 61 Cf. Amnesty International article titled: “Panchito López Juvenile Detention Centre: An opportunity for the Government of Paraguay to meet its promises” AI Index: AMR 45/004/2001, April 2001 (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 21, folio 329); report by the Coordinator of Human Rights of Paraguay (CODEHUPY), “Human Rights in Paraguay, 1996” (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 55, folio 647); excerpt from the book titled “Casas de Violencia. Situación carcelaria en el Paraguay,” by Jorge Rolón Luna (file of appendixes to the brief of preliminary objections, and comments on the brief of pleadings and motions, appendix 41, volume IV, folio 1588); testimony given by Mr. Raúl Guillermo Ramírez Bogado in the presence of a person with legal authority to authenticate documents, on March 26, 2004 (file of written statements supplied by the State, the Inter-American Commission and the alleged victims’ representatives, the Commission’s appendix, folio 197). 62 Cf. Report of the Coordinator of Human Rights of Paraguay (CODEHUPY), “Human Rights in Paraguay, 1996” (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 55, folio 647); record of the November 15, 2000 meeting, which the Permanent Mission of Paraguay to the Organization of American States supplied to the Inter-American Commission by note of January 16, 2001 (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 19, folio 276); excerpt from the book titled “Casas de Violencia. Situación carcelaria en el Paraguay,” by Jorge Rolón Luna (file of appendixes to the brief of preliminary objections, and comments on the brief of pleadings and motions, appendix 41, volume IV, folio 1588); testimony given by Ms. Mirtha Isabel Herreras Fleitas at the Office of the Chief Government Notary of the Republic of Paraguay, March 23, 2004 (file of written statements supplied by the State, the Inter-American Commission and the alleged victims’ representatives, the State’s appendix, folios 67-68). 63 Cf. testimony given by Mrs. Rosalía Figueredo before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights at the public hearing held on May 3, 2004; testimony given by Mr. Juan Antonio de la Vega Elorza before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights at the public hearing held on May 3, 2004; affidavit given by Mrs. María Teresa de Jesús Pérez in the presence of a person with legal authority to authenticate documents, on March 30, 2004 (file of written statements supplied by the State, the Inter-American Commission and the alleged victims’ representatives, representatives’ appendix, folio 251); questions that Ms. Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of CEJIL, asked of young Pedro Iván Peña, and his answers to those questions, which appear in a document dated March 26, 2004 (file of written statements supplied by the State, the Inter-American Commission and the alleged victims’ representatives, representatives’ appendix, folio 265). 64 Cf. Report of the Coordinator of Human Rights of Paraguay (CODEHUPY), “Human Rights in Paraguay, 1996” (file of appendixes to the application, appendix 55, folio 648); record of the November 15, 2000 meeting, which the Permanent Mission of Paraguay to the Organization of American States