Part II Means of Protection, Ch.VIII Inter-American Court of Human Rights, s.3 Procedure, Article 69

Abstract

This chapter addresses Article 69 of the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). Article 68 of the ACHR establishes an important rule for the proper administration of justice. It addresses the manner in which the Inter-American Court's judgments are brought to the attention of the parties, that is, through written notification. The latter clarification is not found in the letter of Article 69 itself but is inferred from the Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Court (Article 67-1 and Article 67-2). Notification is therefore a procedural element which makes it possible to give publicity to the Court's judgments among the parties—Article 69 thus places a procedural obligation on the Court—but it is also closely related to other fundamental provisions of the Convention. In practice, there is a time difference ranging from a few days to two or three months between the time when the Court makes its judgment public erga omnes and the time when it is notified to the parties.