PRESS RELEASE

N° 36/08
 

IACHR PRAISES REPEAL OF ARGENTINA’S MILITARY JUSTICE CODE

 

            Washington, August 12, 2008 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its deep satisfaction over the repeal of Argentina’s Military Code of Justice and the adoption of a new system under which crimes committed by members of the military will be prosecuted through the ordinary courts.

 

            According to the information received, the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina’s federal government approved the reform by a vote of 154 votes to 2 in November 2007, and the Senate gave it unanimous approval with 60 votes on August 6, 2008.

 

            The new law, which will enter into effect six months after it is promulgated, will eliminate military courts and abolish the death penalty. It also establishes a new disciplinary structure that does away with discriminatory penalties related to homosexuality, and penalizes sexual harassment within the armed forces as a serious or extremely serious offense.

 

            On February 24, 2004, the Inter-American Commission approved its Report No. 2/04 on admissibility, in the case of Army Captain Rodolfo Correa Belisle, who had been punished for testifying against his superiors. Following the approval of the report, the State of Argentina and the petitioners began a friendly settlement process, through which the State assumed the commitment of reforming its military justice system.

 

            The Inter-American Commission considers this advance in the law to be a positive step, one that is based on the obligation to respect the rights enshrined in the National Constitution and the American Convention on Human Rights.  

 

Useful Links

Report 2/04, Admissibility of Petition 11.758, Rodolfo Correa Belisle, Argentina

Press Release No. 43/06, IACHR hails progress in friendly settlements

IACHR Web site

 

Read this press release in Spanish / Lea este comunicado de prensa en español

Press contact: María Isabel Rivero
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