Nº 17/99 

On June 11, 1999, in the city of Quito, Ecuador, twelve friendly settlement agreements were signed in a number of cases pending before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission").

Under Article 48.1.f of the American Convention on Human Rights, the Commission is empowered to place itself at the disposal of the parties involved in a particular case "with a view to reaching a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for the human rights" recognized in that international instrument.

Friendly settlement agreements were signed in connection with the following cases: Kelvin Vicente Torres (11.991), María Irene Clavijo Tapia (11.783), Bayron Roberto Cañaveral (11.439), René Gonzalo Cruz (11.605), Angelo Javier Ruales Paredes (11.445), Edison Quishpe (11.421), José Patricio Reascos (11.779), Lidia Riera Rodríguez (11.521), and Enrique Cañola, Santos Cañola, and Orestes Cañola (11.626). These agreements were reached through the initiative of the Commission, which was represented on this occasion by its Rapporteur for Ecuador, Commissioner Carlos Ayala Corao, and by Dr. Pablo Saavedra, a lawyer charged with Ecuadorian affairs at the Executive Secretariat.

In these friendly settlement agreements, the Ecuadorian State recognized its international responsibility in having violated the human rights of the aforesaid individuals. In addition, the Ecuadorian State agreed to bring all the persons responsible for those incidents to trial, and it agreed with the victims and their relatives and representatives on the compensation payments it will make to them to redress the harm suffered.

The Commission expresses its appreciation of the State’s willingness to resolve these cases through friendly settlement agreements and of the permanent spirit of cooperation displayed by the victims, by their families and representatives, and, in particular, by the Ecumenical Human Rights Commission (CEDHU).

Finally, the Commission expresses its pleasure with the friendly settlements reached, notes the efforts made and willingness shown by both sides in achieving them, underscores that it will oversee effective compliance with all of their provisions, and urges the Ecuadorian State to continue with this practice that makes such a valuable contribution to the exercise of human rights in the inter-American arena.

Washington, D.C., June 11, 1999