The facts of the case refer to the forced disappearance of Mr. Vásquez Durand, which took place on January 30, 1995, carried out by members of the Ecuadorian Intelligence Service. This took place within the context of the so-called War of Cenepa (Guerra del Cenepa) or the Conflict of the High Cenepa (Conflicto del Alto Cenepa), which began as a territorial dispute between Peru and Ecuador.

In its ruling, the Inter-American Court applied standards on forced disappearance of persons and addressed aspects of the State's obligation to investigate such cases.