21
b)
The suffering caused by the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
that agents of the Peruvian State unjustly inflicted upon the victim caused
him irreversible harm;
c)
the moral pain and suffering caused to Mr. Cantoral Benavides and his
family can only be redressed through payment of a monetary compensation,
determined on the basis of the principle of equity. The Commission is in
agreement with the statements and requests made by the victim’s
representatives in this regard; and
d)
The compensation that the victim’s representatives are seeking for the
injury to Luis Alberto Cantoral Benavides’ life plan is a legitimate request.
The State’s arguments44
56.
At the public hearing, the State requested that when estimating the
reparations relating to the victim’s interrupted studies and career, the harm to his
life plan, moral damages and the indirect and consequential damages (damnum
emergens), the Court rely on its just and judicious case-law, which is based on the
principles of reasonability and proportionality. The State understands the victim’s
unwillingness to return to Peru, as he is studying and receiving psychotherapy in
Brazil. However, it believes that there is no legal or factual impediment to prevent
Luis Alberto Cantoral Benavides from returning to his country, where the State could
guarantee his safety and provide him health services and schooling in specialized
institutions.
The Court’s comments
57.
The jurisprudence constante of this Court, like that of other courts, is that a
condemnatory judgment can itself be a form of reparation for non-pecuniary
damages.45 However, given the serious circumstances of the present case, the
terrible suffering that the respective events caused the victim and that, in one form
or another, brought pain and suffering upon his family as well, the changes forced
upon the lives of the victim and his family, and the other non-material or nonpecuniary consequences thrust upon them all, the Court is ordering payment of
compensation for non-pecuniary damages, based on the principle of equity.46
58.
The victim’s representatives have made reference to various forms of nonpecuniary damages: the physical and mental suffering endured by the victim; the
destruction of his life plan; the disintegration of the family, and the pain and
suffering that the victim’s mother and brothers endured.
59.
The Court observes that the prison conditions that Luis Alberto Cantoral
Benavides had to endure were hostile and restrictive; he was tortured and subjected
to various forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, which caused him
44
See paragraph 45 of this Judgment.
Cf. Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community Case, supra note 3, paragraph 166; Cesti Hurtado
Case. Reparations, supra note 2, paragraph 51; and The “Street Children” Case (Villagrán Morales et al.).
Reparations, supra note 2, paragraph 88.
45
46
Cf. Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community Case, supra note 3, paragraph 167; Cesti Hurtado
Case. Reparations, supra note 2, paragraph 51; and The “Street Children” Case (Villagrán Morales et al.).
Reparations, supra note 2, paragraph 88.