The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has determined that the Paraguayan State is responsible for serious human rights violations in the case of the murder of the girls Lilian Mariana and María Carmen Villalba. These two 11-year-old girls lost their lives during a military operation in September 2020 in Paraguay, under the government of Mario Addo Benítez.
The Committee highlighted that the Paraguayan State failed to fulfill its obligation to respect, protect, and guarantee the right to life of the girls. It also noted that no proper investigation was carried out into the circumstances of their deaths, which constituted a serious neglect.
The International Campaign in Solidarity with the Villalba Family, representing the family of the girls, promoted this process of complaint that culminated in the international declaration of the Paraguayan State's responsibility. Despite the lack of cooperation from the Government, the Committee's investigation concluded that the rights to life of the girls were violated, as well as the obligation to properly investigate their deaths.
The bodies of Lilian Mariana and María Carmen Villalba were hastily buried, and the authorities initially provided incorrect information about their ages. However, the autopsy confirmed that both were only 11 years old. The Committee has urged Paraguay to strengthen its legal framework regarding its security forces and to complete a thorough investigation into these tragic events.
For its part, Paraguay expressed its regret for what happened, but the UN Committee believes that additional measures must be taken to fully clarify these crimes. In response to the ruling, a Press Conference has been called for Thursday, February 6, to provide more details on the implications of this decision and the follow-up to the case.
The Committee has also requested Paraguay to take measures to carry out a complete investigation into the girls' deaths and has left open the possibility of involving international experts in this process. Although no evidence of systematic rights violations has been found, concrete measures are expected to be taken to ensure justice and accountability in this case.