Table of contents
I. INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND PURPOSE OF THE DISPUTE ..................................... 4
II. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.............................................................................. 5
III. JURISDICTION ........................................................................................................... 6
IV. FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ........................................................................... 6
A.
B.
C.
D.
Friendly settlement agreement ....................................................................... 6
Observations of the representatives ................................................................ 7
Observations of the Commission ..................................................................... 7
Considerations of the Court ............................................................................ 7
V. FACTS ........................................................................................................................... 9
A. The Miskito indigenous people in the department of Gracias a Dios ................... 10
B. Underwater fishing by Miskito divers: working conditions, their effects and domestic
proceedings ...................................................................................................... 10
C. The situation of the victims .......................................................................... 13
VI. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT REGARDING THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
COMMITTED AGAINST THE VICTIMS ............................................................................... 14
A. Preliminary consideration: corporate responsibility with respect to human rights . 15
B. Right to life and personal integrity, rights of the child in relation to the obligations to
guarantee rights and the duty to adopt domestic provisions (Articles 4(1), 5(1) and 19 of
the American Convention in relation to Articles 1(1) and 2 thereof)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
C. Right to work and to just, equitable and satisfactory conditions that ensure the
safety, health and hygiene of the worker, the right to health and social security, and to
equality and non-discrimination, in relation to the obligation of guarantee, and the duty
to adopt domestic provisions (Article 26 of the American Convention in relation to Articles
1(1) and 2 thereof) ............................................................................................ 22
C.1. General considerations on the content and scope of Article 26 of the American
Convention .................................................................................................... 22
C.2. Right to work and to just, equitable and satisfactory conditions that ensure the
health of the worker ....................................................................................... 23
C.3. Right to health and social security .............................................................. 27
C.4. Equality and non-discrimination ................................................................. 34
D. Other arguments ........................................................................................ 38
VII. ENDORSEMENT OF THE FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT .................................. 38
VIII. REPARATIONS (application of Article 63(1) of the American Convention) ............. 39
A. Measures of restitution and satisfaction ......................................................... 39
A.1. Comprehensive and specialized medical and psychological care, including
rehabilitation treatment, for victims their families ............................................... 39
A.2. Educational scholarships for the victims, their children and grandchildren ....... 40
A.3. Program of productive projects .................................................................. 40
A.4. Housing for divers and their families........................................................... 41
A.5. Production and broadcast of a television documentary .................................. 41
A.6. Public act of acknowledgment of international responsibility, apology and
commitment to non-repetition .......................................................................... 42
A.7. Publication and dissemination of the judgment of the Inter-American Court .... 43
B. Pecuniary measures ....................................................................................... 43
B.1. Non-pecuniary damage ............................................................................. 43
B.2. Pecuniary damage.................................................................................... 43
B.3. Costs and expenses.................................................................................. 45
C. Guarantees of non-repetition .......................................................................... 45
C.1. Inclusion of Miskito divers and their families in existing social programs ......... 45
C.2. Measures to ensure adequate regulation, supervision and oversight of industrial
fishing companies in the Miskito territory ........................................................... 46
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