46
151. The Commission contended that it does not consider that “the inability of the
petitioners to locate the alleged victim in Colombia […] is a problem that cannot be
overcome [since] with the constant efforts of the Colombian Church, there is a very
high possibility that the whereabouts of [Mr.] Acosta [Calderón] will eventually be
known.”
ARGUMENTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
152.
The representatives claimed that:
a)
“the Court shall solve a matter that has not been presented in previous
cases and that will imply a jurisprudential development in this subject. Said
matter presents itself because of the impossibility, up to now, to locate the
alleged victim, Mr. […] Acosta Calderón, since after having fulfilled his sentence
he abandoned the country and the Ecumenical Commission of Human Rights
[…] lost all contact with the alleged victim. Even though it is considered that
this is not an obstacle for the determination of the reparations[,] it does present
some considerations regarding the execution and fulfillment of the patrimonial
obligations;” and
b)
the State must indemnify “Mr. Acosta Calderón’s next of kin, that is[,]
his partner, his children, and his mother”.
CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT
153. This case presents the difficulty that neither the Commission nor the
representatives know the whereabouts of the alleged victim. The Commission and the
representatives state that after his release, Mr. Acosta Calderón supposedly returned
to his home country of Colombia. Despite the efforts of Colombia’s religious groups,
Mr. Acosta Calderón has not been located. In this regard, the Commission and the
representatives consider that this fact is not an obstacle for the determination of the
corresponding reparations. Both parties suggested that all financial reparation
corresponding to Mr. Acosta Calderón be kept in a fiduciary account or a trust under
his name until he is located.
154. As previously mentioned, (supra para. 145), Article 63(1) of the Convention
establishes that after declaring a violation of the Convention, the Court will order the
payment of a fair indemnity to the injured party. The inability to locate the victim does
not affect his right to the corresponding reparation. Therefore, this Tribunal considers
that Mr. Acosta Calderón is the beneficiary of the reparations in this case.
B) PECUNIARY AND NON-PECUNIARY DAMAGE
Arguments of the Commission
155.
The Commission stated that:
a)
“all financial reparation that corresponds [to Mr. Acosta Calderón] shall
be kept in a fiduciary account to his name, until he is located;”
b)
Mr. Acosta Calderón “is entitled to receive – and the State has the
obligation to grant him – a compensation that will reflect the fundamental and