216. In light of the foregoing, the Commission believes that the anguish experienced by the victim’s family in their search for justice, the lack of effective protection, and the profound suffering and radical changes in their lives they have endured, gravely affected their physical integrity. Consequently, the Commission concludes that the State did violate the right to mental and moral integrity enshrined in Article 5.1 of the American Convention, in conjunction with the duty of respect established in Article 1.1 thereof, with respect to the members of Carlos Escaleras Mejía’s family: his mother Ofelia Mejía; his wife Marta Alvarenga Reyes, his sons Douglas Arnaldo, Emerson Alexander, Carlos Andrés, Marta Agripina and Omar Josué Escaleras; and his siblings Eldin, René, Yolanda, Andrés, Omar, and Alma, all with the surnames Mejía Alvarenga.. V. RECOMMENDATIONS 217. Based on the legal and factual considerations set out above, the Inter-American Commission concludes that the State of Honduras is responsible for violating: (i) the rights to life, to freedom of association, and political rights enshrined in Articles 4, 16, and 23 of the American Convention, in conjunction with Article 1.1 thereof, with respect to Carlos Escaleras Mejía; and (ii) the rights to humane treatment, to a fair trial, and to judicial protection enshrined in Articles 5, 8, and 25 of the American Convention, in conjunction with Article 1.1 thereof, with respect to the members of Carlos Escaleras Mejía’s family, namely: his mother Ofelia Mejía; his wife Marta Alvarenga Reyes, his sons Douglas Arnaldo, Emerson Alexander, Carlos Andrés, Marta Agripina and Omar Josué Escaleras; and his siblings Eldin, René, Yolanda, Andrés, Omar, and Alma, all with the surnames Mejía Alvarenga.. 218. In consideration of the foregoing conclusions, THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STATE OF HONDURAS: 1. Make appropriate reparations for the human rights violations established in this report, in both their material and moral dimensions, as well as the historical vindication of the work of Mr. Carlos Escaleras Mejía as a human rights defender. 2. Swiftly undertake and complete an impartial, complete, and effective judicial investigation in order to clarify the circumstances in which Mr. Carlos Escaleras Mejía was killed, to identify all the persons who participated, either directly or indirectly, in the different stages of its design and execution, and to impose the corresponding punishments. As a part of this process, the State should adopt all the measures necessary to protect the witnesses and other participants in the proceedings, as applicable. 3. Order the relevant administrative, disciplinary, or criminal measures applicable to the actions or omissions of the state officials that contributed to the denial of justice and the impunity that characterize the facts of the case. 4. Adopt legislative, institutional, and judicial measures to reduce the exposure to risk of human rights defenders, including environmentalists and ecologists, in vulnerable situations. Therefore, the State must: 4.1. Strengthen its institutional capacity for combating the impunity surrounding threats against and killings of defenders, by devising investigation protocols that take account of the risks inherent in defending human rights, and in particular the right to a healthy environment, and that lead to the punishment of the guilty and ensure appropriate redress for the victims. The State must also ensure that when public officials are implicated in investigations into human rights violations, those investigations are conducted effectively and with independence. 42