Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez v. Ecuador
Judgment of November 21, 2007
(Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations, and Costs)
In the Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez,
the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court” or
“the Court”) composed of the following judges:
Sergio García Ramírez, President
Cecilia Medina Quiroga, Vice President
Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge
Diego García-Sayán, Judge
Leonardo A. Franco, Judge
Margarette May Macaulay, Judge, and
Rhadys Abreu Blondet, Judge;
also present,
Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Secretary, and
Emilia Segares Rodríguez, Deputy Secretary,
pursuant to Articles 62(3) and 63(1) of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights
(hereinafter “the Convention” or “the Inter-American Convention”) and Articles 29, 31,
53(2), 55, 56 and 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter “the Rules of
Procedure”), delivers this judgment.
I
INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND MATTER IN DISPUTE
1.
On June 23, 2006, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 51 and 61 of the
Inter-American Convention, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) lodged before the
Court an application against the Republic of Ecuador (hereinafter “the State” or
“Ecuador”), arising from petitions Nos. 12,091 and 172/99, forwarded, respectively, by
Juan Carlos Chaparro Álvarez on September 8, 1998, and by Freddy Hernán Lapo Iñiguez
on April 14, 1999. On October 22, 2003, the Commission adopted Report No. 77/03, in
which it decided to joinder the petitions of Mr. Chaparro and Mr. Lapo in a single case,
and to declare them admissible. Subsequently, on February 28, 2006, the Commission
adopted Report on Merits No. 6/06 in the terms of Article 50 of the Convention, which
included specific recommendations for the State. This report was notified to the State on