The case concerns the forced disappearance of a group of children, during the first few years of the internal armed conflict in El Salvador, between 1981 and 1983, by members of military groups in the context of “anti-insurgency operations”. The victims were separated from their families and disappeared via various means, including formal and informal adoption, appropriation by military officials, and in some cases, illegal trafficking.

The State carried out an acknowledgment of international responsibility for the events, including the pattern of forced disappearance of children. The Court analysed the guarantees violated and developed standards regarding the characteristics and effects of forced disappearance; the right to identity, the right to family, the right to a name, and special protection measures for children. Likewise, the IA Court made reference to the right of access to justice in a reasonable time period, and to access to information from military archives.