Nº 29/99

On December 2, 1999, at the headquarters of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or the “IACHR”) a friendly settlement agreement concerning Case 11.808 – Valentín Carrillo Saldaña was signed between the United Mexican States (hereinafter “the Mexican State”) and the representatives of the relatives of Mr. Carrillo Saldaña: the Committee for Solidarity and Defense of Human Rights, (COSYDDHAC), and the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL).  The friendly settlement proceeding for the case was initiated on December 1, 1998, at the proposal of the IACHR, and involved several meetings and the signing of a first agreement between the parties on May 1, 1999.  The agreement signed yesterday contains the points agreed on by the parties and the measures taken to remedy the consequences of violations of Mr. Carrillo Saldaña’s human rights. 

Heading the delegation of the Mexican State was its Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, Ambassador Claude Heller.  Representatives for the petitioners were Dr. María Claudia Pulido (CEJIL) and Joel Solomon (Human Rights Watch/Americas).  The IACHR was represented by its Chair, Prof. Robert K. Goldman; the Rapporteur for Mexico, Comissioner Carlos Ayala Corao; the Assistant Executive Secretary, Dr. David J. Padilla, and Dr. Mario López Garelli. 

The Commission commended the parties on the activities carried out during this first successful friendly settlement proceeding.  Likewise, the IACHR expressed its satisfaction with this important step toward full observance of human rights for the inhabitants of Mexico, within the framework of international obligations adopted by the State within the inter-American system.