The facts of the case refer to the forced disappearance of Efraín Bámaca Velásquez, commander of the guerilla group Organization of People in Arms (ORPA), after being captured in March 1992, by Army officers. During his captivity, Mr. Bámaca Velásquez was subjected to torture.

The IA Court placed these events in the context of the internal armed conflict that occurred in Guatemala, exposing the army’s practice of capturing guerillas and keeping them in clandestine detention in order to obtain information from them by means of torture.

The State recognized its international responsibility for violating State obligation to respect and guarantee the rights established in the American Convention. Notwithstanding, the IA Court developed standards regarding the nature of forced disappearance as a violation of multiple rights and a violation of the victim’s and family’s right to personal integrity