International Human Rights Law: Declarations and State Accountability

Key Declarations of Fundamental Rights (18th–20th Century)

This compilation lists significant declarations and conventions concerning fundamental rights:

1. The Bill of Rights of Virginia, 1776 (U.S. wedge)
2. The Act of Independence of the United States, 1776.
3. The Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen, 1776.
4. The American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, 1948.
5. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1498.
6. The European Convention for the Safeguarding of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Rome Convention), 1950.
7. The International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Civil and Political Rights, 1966.
8. The American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José de Costa Rica), 1969.
9. The Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki).
10. The African Charter on Human and Peoples (Letter Fanjul).
11. The Declaration and Action Program of Vienna, 1993.

Court Judgment and Reparations: Human Rights Violations

Court Findings on State Responsibility

The Court unanimously declared:

• Accepts partial recognition of international responsibility by the State.
• States that there was a violation of the rights to judicial guarantees and judicial protection in relation to the general obligation to respect and guarantee rights, to the detriment of the people involved.
• The State violated the right to life, personal integrity, and freedom of association of persons duly identified.

Mandatory Reparation Measures

The Court unanimously determined that this case, per se, constitutes a form of reparation. The State is mandated to execute the following measures:

Financial and Judicial Obligations

1. The State shall pay the amounts stated in the sentence for compensation for material and immaterial damage, and the reimbursement of costs and expenses, as appropriate, within one year, counted from the notification of this failure.
2. The State must complete the criminal proceedings, or start those concerned, regarding the facts that generated the violations of this case, and resolve the matter in the manner provided by law and within a reasonable time.

Public Recognition and Memorialization

3. A public act of recognition of international responsibility should be carried out within one year.
4. Within two years, the State should erect a memorial for Blanca Kawas and perform the labeling of the national park that bears her name.

Victim Support and Awareness Campaign

5. The State must provide free, immediate, and necessary psychological and/or psychiatric help to people who require it.
6. Within two years, the State must run a national awareness campaign highlighting the importance of the work of environmentalists in Honduras and their contributions to defending human rights.