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The Implications of the Principle of Equality and Non-discrimination on the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Inter-American System

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Human Rights Behind Bars

Part of the book series: Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice ((IUSGENT,volume 103))

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Abstract

The situation of the persons deprived of liberty has been consistently in the agenda of the Inter-American Human Rights System, which has led to the development of a robust body of standards regarding detention conditions applicable to every person deprived of liberty. This Chapter takes a deep look at how the principle of equality and non-discrimination intersects with the rights of persons deprived of liberty and how this intersection is reflected in the international human rights obligations of States within the Inter-American legal framework. We identified two general implications of such principle. First, the prohibition of unjustified limitations of rights (different from personal liberty) because of the condition of being deprived of liberty, including health care and visitation rights. Second, the development of specific standards regarding particular groups of persons deprived of liberty; and how the right to equality and non-discrimination requires differential or special treatment because of their particular needs or the enhanced risks or vulnerabilities that they face under custody. We also identified some pending items on the agenda of the Inter-American System on the topic, with particular emphasis on the right to vote of persons deprived of liberty, the situation of older persons deprived of liberty and the incipient steps with respect to racial and socio-economic disparities among the population in jail.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    IACtHR, Case of Mota Abarullo et al. v. Venezuela, Series C No. 417, Judgment of 18 November 2020, para 88; and IACtHR, Case of Bulacio v. Argentina, Series C No. 100, Judgment of 18 September, 2003, paras 126 and 138.

  2. 2.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, Series C No. 396, Judgment of 25 November 2019, para 90.

  3. 3.

    IACtHR, Case of Mendoza et al. v. Argentina, Series C No. 260, Judgment of 14 May 2013, para 152.

  4. 4.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 91.

  5. 5.

    IACHR, Report. No. 122/18. Case 11.656, Merits (Publication), Marta Lucía Álvarez Giraldo, Colombia (2018), para 165; and IACHR, Report on the Human Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas, OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 64 (2011), para 49.

  6. 6.

    Ibid., para 189; and, paras 49 and 71.

  7. 7.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 91; and IACtHR, Case of the “Juvenile Reeducation Institute” v. Paraguay, Series C No. 112, Judgment of 2 September 2004, para 153.

  8. 8.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 92; and IACtHR, Case of Wong Ho Wing v. Peru, Series C No. 297, Judgment of 30 June 2015, para 294.

  9. 9.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, paras 94 and 95; and IACtHR, Case of Pacheco Teruel et al. v. Honduras, Series C No. 241, Judgment of 27 April 2012, paras 60 and 69.

  10. 10.

    American Convention on Human Rights, adopted at the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights, San José, Costa Rica, 22 November 1969, Article 5.6.

  11. 11.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, Series C No. 312, Judgment of 29 February, 2016, para 169.

  12. 12.

    IACtHR, Case of Hernández v. Argentina, Series C No. 395, Judgment of 22 November 2019, para 87 (footnotes omitted).

  13. 13.

    IACtHR, Case of Hernández v. Argentina, para 87 (footnotes omitted); and IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, paras 172–178 and 189 (footnotes omitted); and IACtHR, Case of Vera Vera et al. v. Ecuador, Series. C No. 22, Judgment of 19 May 2011, para 42 (footnotes omitted).

  14. 14.

    IACHR, Report No. 172/10, Case 12.561, Cesar Alberto Mendoza and others, Merits, Argentina, November 2, 2010.

  15. 15.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, para 171.

  16. 16.

    Ibid., para 189. Citing: The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, Third General Report of Activities for the period 1 January-December, 1992. Ref.: CPT/Inf (93) 12 N] (1993), para 38, cited in: ECtHR, Kudhobin v. Russia, Application No. 59696/00, Judgment of 26 October 2006, para 56.

  17. 17.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, para 177 (footnotes omitted).

  18. 18.

    Ibid., para 188.

  19. 19.

    Ibid., para 184.

  20. 20.

    World Health Organization.

  21. 21.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, para 187.

  22. 22.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 100.

  23. 23.

    IACtHR, Matter of María Lourdes Afiuni regarding Venezuela Provisional Measures, Order of the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of 10 December 10, 2010, Consideration 12 and Order 2.

  24. 24.

    IACHR, Principles and Best Practices on the Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty, Principles IX and XVIII.

  25. 25.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, paras 96–98.

  26. 26.

    Ibid., para 118.

  27. 27.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 101; IACtHR, Case of Norín Catrimán et al. (Leaders, Members and Activist of the Mapuche Indigenous People) v. Chile, Series C No. 279, Judgment of 29 May 2014, para 407.

  28. 28.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 102.

  29. 29.

    Ibid., paras 103, 104 107, 108, 115, 116 and 117 (footnotes omitted).

  30. 30.

    Ibid. footnote 28, para 105.

  31. 31.

    Ibid. footnote 28, para 118 (translation is not official) (footnotes omitted).

  32. 32.

    IACtHR, Case of the Miguel Castro Castro Prison v. Peru, Series C No. 160, Judgment of 25 November 2006, para 223.

  33. 33.

    Ibid., para 303.

  34. 34.

    Ibid. footnote 32, para 319.

  35. 35.

    Ibid. footnote 32, para 290.

  36. 36.

    Ibid. footnote 32, para 292.

  37. 37.

    Ibid. footnote 32, para 304.

  38. 38.

    Ibid. footnote 32, para 308.

  39. 39.

    Ibid. footnote 32, paras 309, 310, 312 and 313.

  40. 40.

    These standards are: (i) the victim’s statement should be taken in a safe and comfortable environment that offers privacy and inspires confidence; (ii) the victim’s statement should be recorded to avoid or limit the need to repeat it; (iii) the victim should be provided with medical, psychological and hygienic treatment, both on an emergency basis, and continuously if required, under a protocol for such treatment aimed at reducing the consequences of the rape; (iv) a complete and detailed medical and psychological examination should be performed immediately by appropriate trained personnel, of the sex preferred by the victim insofar as this is possible, and the victim should be advised that she may be accompanied by a person of confidence if she so wishes; (v) the investigative measures should be coordinated and documented and the evidence handled with care, including taking sufficient samples and performing all possible tests to determine the possible perpetrator of the act, obtaining other evidence such as the victim’s clothes, examining the scene of the incident immediately, and guaranteeing the proper chain of custody of the evidence, and (vi) the victim should be provided with access to free legal assistance at all stages of the proceedings. The Court also established relevant standards on how to conduct the interview of victims of sexual violence. See: IACtHR, Case of Women Victims of Sexual Torture in Atenco v. Mexico, Series C No. 371, Judgment of November 28, 2018, paras 272 and 273.

  41. 41.

    IACtHR, Case of Women Victims of Sexual Torture in Atenco v. Mexico, 7, para 274.

  42. 42.

    Ibid., para 275.

  43. 43.

    IACtHR, Case of the Miguel Castro Castro Prison v. Peru, para 303.

  44. 44.

    IACtHR, Case of Gelman Vs. Uruguay, Serie C No. 221, Judgment of 24 February 2011, paras 97 and 98.

  45. 45.

    IACtHR, Case of Case of the Miguel Castro Castro Prison v. Peru, para 330.

  46. 46.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, para 109.

  47. 47.

    IACHR, Report. No. 122/18, Case 11.656. Merits (Publication), Marta Lucía Álvarez Giraldo. Colombia. 5 October 2018.

  48. 48.

    Ibid., para 166.

  49. 49.

    Ibid. footnote 47, paras 172–177.

  50. 50.

    Ibid. footnote 47, para 201.

  51. 51.

    Ibid. footnote 47, para 165.

  52. 52.

    Ibid. footnote 47, para 198; and IACHR, Report on the Human Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 64 (2011), para 628.

  53. 53.

    IACtHR, Matter of the Penitentiary Complex of Curado regarding Brazil, Provisional Measures, Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of 28 November 2018, para 154.

  54. 54.

    Ibid., para 155. Citing: United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime. Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs (2009) and Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

  55. 55.

    IACtHR, Case of López Álvarez v. Honduras, paras 163 and 164.

  56. 56.

    Ibid., para 168.

  57. 57.

    IACtHR, Case of López Álvarez v. Honduras, para 169.

  58. 58.

    Ibid., para 171.

  59. 59.

    IACtHR, Case of Norín Catrimán et al. (Leaders, Members and Activist of the Mapuche Indigenous People) v. Chile, para 358.

  60. 60.

    Ibid., para 358.

  61. 61.

    Ibid. footnote 57, para 102.

  62. 62.

    IACtHR, Case of Vélez Loor v. Panama, para 207.

  63. 63.

    Ibid., para 169.

  64. 64.

    Ibid. footnote 62, para 171. Citing: United Nations, “Promotion and Protection of all Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development,” Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Group Report, A/HRC/10/21, February 16, 2009, para 67; and United Nations, Human Rights Committee, C. v. Australia, Communication No 900/1999: Australia. 13/11/2002, CCPR/C/76/D/900/1999, of 13 November 2002, para 8.2.

  65. 65.

    Ibid. footnote 62, paras 207–209. Citing: United Nations, “Specific Groups and Individuals: Migrant Workers,” Report of the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Gabriela Rodriguez Pizarro, submitted in accordance with Order 2002/62 of the Commission on Human Rights, E/CN.4/2003/85, December 30, 2002.

  66. 66.

    IACHR, Due Process in Procedures for the Determination of Refugee Status and Statelessness and the Granting of Complementary Protection, OEA/Ser.L/V/II, August 5, 2020, paras 181–190 (footnotes omitted).

  67. 67.

    Ibid.

  68. 68.

    Ibid. footnote 66.

  69. 69.

    Ibid. footnote 66.

  70. 70.

    Ibid. footnote 66.

  71. 71.

    Ibid. footnote 66.

  72. 72.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, para 201.

  73. 73.

    Ibid., paras 204, 205, 207 and 208 (footnotes omitted).

  74. 74.

    IACtHR, Case of Chinchilla Sandoval et al. v. Guatemala, paras 209, 214 and 216 (footnotes omitted).

  75. 75.

    Ibid., para 219.

  76. 76.

    Ibid. footnote 74, concurring vote. Judge Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot. paras 5 and 64.

  77. 77.

    IACtHR, Case of Mendoza et al. v. Argentina, para 133.

  78. 78.

    Ibid., paras 133, 134, 136 and 137. Citing: Comité de los Derechos del Niño, Observación General No. 10, Los derechos del niño en la justicia de menores, CRC/C/GC/10, 25 de abril de 2007, para 10.

  79. 79.

    IACHR, Report, Juvenile Justice and Human Rights in the Americas, OEA/Ser.L/V/II. July 12, 2011, paras 518 and following.

  80. 80.

    IACtHR, Case of Mota Abarullo et al. v. Venezuela, para 80 (footnotes omitted).

  81. 81.

    Ibid., paras 80–85 and 102 (footnotes omitted).

  82. 82.

    Ibid. footnote 80, paras 97 and following (footnotes omitted).

  83. 83.

    IACtHR, Case of López et al. v. Argentina, paras 96–98.

  84. 84.

    IACHR (2008), Principles and Best Practices on the Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty.

  85. 85.

    IACHR, Report No. 29/20, Case 12.865, Merits (Publication), Djamel Ameziane. United States of America, April 22, 2020, para 160.

  86. 86.

    Ibid., para 159 (footnotes omitted).

  87. 87.

    Ibid footnote 85, para 160.

  88. 88.

    See for example: ECtHR, Hirst v. the United Kingdom, Application no. 74025/01, Judgement of 10 October 2005; and ECtHR, Scoppola v. Italy, Application no. 126/05, Judgment of 22 May 2012.

  89. 89.

    United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (2009), Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs.

  90. 90.

    IACHR, Police Violence against Afro-Descendants in the United States (2018), paras 130–168.

  91. 91.

    IACtHR, Case of Fernández Prieto and Tumbeiro. v. Argentina, Series C No. 411, Judgment of 1 September 2020, paras 78–86; and IACtHR, Case of Acosta Martínez et al. v. Argentina, Series C No. 410, Judgment of 31 August 2020, paras 93–100.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Washington, DC, USA

    Flavia Piovesan

  2. Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Flavia Piovesan

  3. O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA

    Silvia Serrano Guzman

Authors
  1. Flavia Piovesan
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  2. Silvia Serrano Guzman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Programme for Studies on Human Rights in Context, Human Rights Centre, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Clara Burbano Herrera

  2. Programme for Studies on Human Rights in Context, Human Rights Centre, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Yves Haeck

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Piovesan, F., Serrano Guzman, S. (2022). The Implications of the Principle of Equality and Non-discrimination on the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Inter-American System. In: Burbano Herrera, C., Haeck, Y. (eds) Human Rights Behind Bars. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 103. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11484-7_3

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