Amnesty Laws: Voided by the Court's Decision
The ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Barrios Altos case marks an important milestone in the decisions made by that protective body. For the first time in Latin American history and reality, the Court has ruled broadly and thoughtfully on the invalidity of amnesty laws, better known as impunity laws. The scope of this decision constitutes a step forward in the protection of human beings. And, without a doubt, it sets a first-order legal precedent.