Recognition of Women's Rights before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

This article begins by briefly describing two cases on sexual violence perpetrated by State agents against women that were brought before the Inter-American Court of Human rights (IACHR). The author then provides an in- depth analysis of the 2006 IACHR decision of the Castro-Castro Prison case, where there were allegations of sexual violence and abuse of of female inmates by State authorities. The IACHR's found the violence perpetrated against the female inmates had violated various articles of the American Convention of Human Rights, the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, and the Inter-American Convention of the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women (Convention of Belém do Pará). Finally, the author explores the IACHR's use of the Convention of Belém do Pará in the Castro-Castro Prison case and discusses future implications it may have on addressing women's rights abuses.

Karla I Quintana Osuna, Recognition of Women's Rights before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2008) 21:2 Harv Hum Rts J 301.