Part II Means of Protection, Ch.VIII Inter-American Court of Human Rights, s.3 Procedure, Article 68

This chapter assesses Article 68 of the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). Article 68 of the ACHR lays down an essential quality of the judgments adopted by the Inter-American Court, namely, that they are binding on the States Parties to the litigation. As a result, the latter have an obligation to respect and implement, an obligation whose customary nature in international law is constantly stressed by the inter-American Tribunal. Legal acts produced by the Inter-American Court as a result of complaints filed by individuals under Article 44 of the ACHR or, as the case may be, by States on the basis of Article 45, and that are brought under Article 61 of the ACHR are therefore judicial acts that are binding on the defendant State, and not mere recommendations or opinions addressed to them. Judgments have the force of res judicata, with effect inter partes.