Litigation Experience in the Case of Azul Rojas Marín

by Edith Arenaza, Litigation Advisor, Promsex

Azul’s statement as a victim of human rights violations has been crucial for obtaining justice in the Inter-American Human Rights System. Azul’s participation via video conference in the public hearing before the IACtHR during the examination of her case contributed to humanising the case, putting a face on the violence she suffered. Additionally, her involvement in the process allowed the judges of the IACtHR to understand directly how the violence impacted Azul’s life project and what kind of reparation measures are most appropriate in her case.

Azul’s participation during the implementation stage has also been important. Her involvement in meetings with national authorities and monitoring hearings before the IACtHR highlighted the lack of action by the State and the obstacles related to the implementation of reparation.

Since her involvement in national and regional procedures, Azul has been widely considered a human rights defender as her fight for justice and reparation has contributed to advancing international and national human rights standards in favour of LGTBIQ+ persons.

Notably, Azul’s participation in these processes has been voluntary, and she has been continuously supported by a psychologist, especially in the most challenging stages of the case. The litigation process has been centred on Azul as a survivor, focusing on Azul’s needs, respecting her decisions, and creating psychological tools aimed at strengthening her self-esteem and security.

Read more on Azul’s case.

This article was first published in the Community Corner of our Just Reparation newsletter. These contributions are invaluable in enriching our collective understanding and fostering meaningful dialogue within the reparation community of practice. If you would like to be featured, we encourage you to submit your contributions to [email protected].