Court.” 347 In addition, the Court reiterates that it is not sufficient merely to submit probative
documents, but rather the parties must also provide arguments that relate the evidence to
the fact that it represents and, in the case of financial disbursements, that the items and
their justification are clearly established. 348
327. In this case, the Court has verified that some of the vouchers forwarded by the
representatives do not correspond to the processing of this case; others are illegible or
unrelated to the case. Consequently, these expenses will not be taken into account when
establishing the respective costs and expenses. In addition, as it has in other cases, the
Court can infer that the representatives incurred expenses when processing the case before
the inter-American human rights system. Furthermore, the Court notes the observations of
the representatives concerning expenses incurred by Mr. González Medina’s family to attend
the hearings before the Inter-American Commission; accordingly, the Court considers that it
is also appropriate to order the payment of an amount for this concept directly to Luz
Altagracia Ramírez.
328. Regarding the State’s request, that the Court determine a single amount for costs
and expenses to be given to Luz Altagracia Ramírez, the Court finds no reason to deviate
from its consistent practice of ordering the said payment in favor of the individuals or
organizations for which it is expressly requested in the corresponding briefs. The State has
offered no justification for this request, so the Court does not find it admissible.
329. Consequently, the Court determines, in equity, that, for costs and expenses, the
State must deliver the sum of US$3,200.00 (three thousand two hundred United States
dollars) to Luz Altagracia Ramírez de González; the sum of US$15,000.00 (fifteen thousand
United States dollars) to the civil organization “Truth Commission,” and the sum of
US$15,000.00 (fifteen thousand United States dollars) to the Center for Justice and
International Law (CEJIL). At the stage of monitoring compliance with this judgment, the
Court may order the State to reimburse the victims or their representatives subsequent
reasonable and duly authenticated expenditure.
F)
Reimbursement of expenses to the Victims’ Legal Assistance Fund
330. In 2008, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States created the
Legal Assistance Fund of the Inter-American Human Rights System, “to facilitate access to
the inter-American human rights system by persons who currently lack the resources
needed to bring their cases before the system.” 349 In the instant case, the victims were
granted the financial assistance required to present the testimony of one alleged victim and
one witness during the public hearing held in Costa Rica from the Court’s Legal Assistance
Fund (supra paras. 7, 9 and 11).
331. In accordance with article 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legal Assistance Fund,
on September 29, 2011, the State was given the opportunity to present its observations on
347
Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez. v. Ecuador, supra note 219, para. 275, and Case of
Fontevecchia and D’Amico v. Argentina, supra note 70, para. 127.
348
Cf. Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez, supra note 219, para. 277, and Case of Contreras et al. v.
El Salvador, supra note 51, para. 233.
349
AG/RES. 2426 (XXXVIII-O/08), Resolution adopted by the thirty-eighth OAS General Assembly during its
fourth plenary session held on June 3, 2008, “Establishment of the Legal Assistance Fund of the Inter-American
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
Inter-American Human Rights System,” Article 1(1).
96
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