Inter-American Court of Human Rights Case of Heliodoro Portugal v. Panama Judgment of August 12, 2008 (Preliminary objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs) In the case of Heliodoro Portugal, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter, “the Court” or “the Inter-American Court”) composed of the following judges:* Diego García Sayán, President; Sergio García Ramírez, Judge; Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge; Leonardo A. Franco, Judge; Margarette May Macaulay, Judge, and Rhadys Abreu Blondet, Judge; also present, Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Secretary pursuant to Articles 62(3) and 63(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter, “the Convention” or “the American Convention”) and Articles 29, 31, 37, 56 and 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter, “the Rules of Procedure”), delivers this judgment. I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND SUBJECT MATTER OF THE DISPUTE 1. On January 23, 2007, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 50 and 61 of the American Convention, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter, “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) lodged before the Court an application against the Republic of Panama (hereinafter “the State” or “Panama”). This application originated from petition No. 12,408 submitted to the Secretariat of the Commission on June 2, 2001, by the Center for Justice and International Law (hereinafter “CEJIL”) and Patria Portugal. On October 24, 2002, the Commission adopted Report on admissibility No. 72/02 and, on October 27, 2005, it adopted Report on merits No. 103/05, in accordance with Article 50 of the Convention;1 the latter contained various recommendations for the State. On January 22, 2007, the Commission, “[h]aving considered the State's report on * For reasons beyond their control, Judge Cecilia Medina Quiroga and Deputy Secretary Emilia Segares Rodríguez did not take part in the deliberation and signature of this judgment. 1 In its report on merits, the Commission concluded that the State was responsible for the violation of the rights established in Articles I, XXV, XXVI of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man; Articles 4, 5, 7, 8 and 25, in conjunction with Article 1(1) of the American Convention, Articles II and III of the InterAmerican Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons and Articles 1, 2, 6, and 8 of the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture.