Authority: American Commission on Human rights

Date: 07/04/2007

Subject: The case derives from a claim presented by the Interamerican Commission of human rights against Colombia with regard to facts occurred on the first of February 1998, when some officers of the Colombian Army violated the domicile of Mr. German Escué [Zapata], tied him up, beat him and took him away from his house, not far from where he was found dead. The Court has stated the violation of the rights to life, to personal integrity and freedom, and of the rights to the inviolability of domicile and to jurisdictional guarantees and protection, provided respectively by articles 4, 5, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, 11.2, 8.1 and 25 of the American Convention of human rights The State must immediately ascertain the facts in order to punish those who are guilty; within six months, it must publish an official act in which it publicly recognizes its international responsibilities; it must also give medical and psychiatric assistance to the victim’s relatives and it must pay the sums of money provided by the decision as compensation for the suffered material and immaterial damages.

Parties: Escué Zapata c/ Colombia

Original language: English

Classification: Dignity - Art. 2 Right to life - Art. 3 Physical and mental integrity - Freedoms - Art. 6 Personal security - Art. 7 Domicile - Justice - Art. 47 Right to an effective remedy before a tribunal

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