IACHR refers case involving Argentina to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

On 27th March, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights filed a case before the Inter-American Court against the State of Argentina for violating the fundamental rights of  Guillermo Antonio Álvarez during a criminal proceeding against him. Guillermo was charged with the crimes of robbery and homicide that occurred between 27 and 28 July 1996. The Court in which the initial proceedings were heard sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment. After a series of appeals against this decision, it ended up being confirmed in 1999. However, in its report of merits, the IACHR concluded that the criminal proceedings that lead to the sentence ignored Mr Álvarez’s rights to a fair trial in several dimensions. For example, the report determined that the victim did not have the time and means to prepare an adequate and effective defence. It happened because the judges of the Argentinian Court revoked the participation of the legal representatives of Mr Álvarez’s, and replaced them by the Official Public Defender only a few hours before the trial begins. Therefore, the victim could not sufficiently engage and talk with his defender to elaborate his defence strategy. The commission added the Official Public defender could not have studied the victim’s situation in less than 24 hours. For further information, please visit: https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2021/090.asp