VII-1
RIGHTS TO HUMANE TREATMENT, TO PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE, TO THE RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD, TO EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW, TO A FAIR TRIAL AND JUDICIAL PROTECTION,
IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATIONS TO RESPECT AND GUARANTEE RIGHTS AND NOT TO
DISCRIMINATE, AND ADOPT PROVISIONS IN DOMESTIC LAW150, AND ARTICLES 7(B),
7(C), 7(E) AND 7(F) OF THE CONVENTION OF BELÉM DO PARÁ
A.
Arguments of the parties and the Commission
77. Regarding the duty of special protection and enhanced due diligence in the investigation, the
Commission indicated that, in this case, a serious, impartial and effective investigation aimed at
determining the truth was not carried out through all available legal means, with the enhanced due
diligence required by Articles 7(b) and (f) of the Convention of Belém do Pará and Article 19 of the
American Convention. The Commission indicated that this lack of investigation led to the dismissal
and remand of the case for a new criminal trial, violating the alleged victim's right to an effective
judicial remedy. Furthermore, it noted that during the investigation and prosecutions, the necessary
measures were not adopted to avoid Brisa’s revictimization, and the procedures were not conducted
with a gender and childhood perspective or in accordance with the duty of strict and enhanced due
diligence, and special protection that cases of sexual violence against an “adolescent woman” require.
The above is due to the fact that (i) the State did not provide her with immediate medical and
psychological assistance; (ii) the Prosecutor “subjected” her to traumatic interviews in a hostile and
inappropriate environment, and (iii) Brisa was subjected to an abusive and humiliating forensic
examination degrading her privacy, among other alleged acts of violation. Additionally, the
Commission noted that, during said examination, there was excessive presence of health personnel,
use of force and disrespect for the alleged victim’s requirements and expressions of anguish and
pain,151 and that, seven years after the events occurred, she was subjected to a new gynecological
examination, “which was absolutely unnecessary.”
78. Regarding the reasonable period of time, the Commission stated that, due to the errors and
shortcomings in the investigation and prosecution, there was an excessive delay in the criminal
process, since, almost 18 years after the occurrence of the events, there is no final judgment. It
explained that such delay is not attributable to the complexity of the matter or to the procedural
activity of the interested parties, but to the conduct of the authorities that “caused significant delays
in the processing of various appeals, the revocation of two final sentences and the resubmission of
the case for new prosecution on two occasions.” Furthermore, “they did not take the necessary
safeguards to prevent the suspect from fleeing, even though there was sufficient evidence of said
risk in the process, nor have they taken the necessary measures to conclude the proceedings against
him.”
79. Regarding the duty to respect rights without discrimination, the Commission indicated that
judicial ineffectiveness and inefficiency in cases of violence against women, as happened in the case
under examination, constitute in themselves discrimination against women in access to justice and
foster an environment of impunity, which facilitates and promotes the repetition of events.
80. The representatives noted that the investigation and prosecution of Brisa’s case lacked a
gender perspective and sensitivity to children.
Articles 5(1), 5(2), 11(2), 19, 24, 8 and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights, read in conjunction with
Articles 1(1) and 2 thereof.
150
The Commission stated that circumstances such as these constitute an arbitrary interference in the private life of the
alleged victim and, since there was force and absence of consent to continue with the expert examination, it constitutes
“serious” institutional violence of a sexual nature.
151
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