had been thrown on those facts by the Peace Commission set up to investigate what had happened to detainees who disappeared during the dictatorship. It stated that, as a result of a decision taken by the Executive Branch in December 2005, cases denounced by the Peace Commission are not included in the scope of Law 15,848. 13. Regarding the investigation into the forced disappearance of Luis Eduardo González, the State reported that it was currently being conducted by the 26th Criminal Court It stated that on August 29, 2018, the Prosecutor's Office had asked for several evidentiary procedures that were still pending. The State indicated that on April 5, 2019, the Ministry of Defense had been asked to remit testimony from the proceedings before the Honor Tribunal in the Gavazzo and Silveira cases. 14. Concerning the forced disappearance of Oscar Tassino, the State indicated that it was being investigated by the 27th Criminal Court. It stated that on March 21, 2018, the Prosecutor's Office has asked for several evidentiary procedures that were still incomplete. It added that, on April 5, 2019, after it had become aware of the records of proceedings before the Honor Tribunal in the Gavazzo and Silveira, it had asked the Ministry of Defense to remit the testimony contained therein. According to the State, the investigation is at an advance stage, although the principal accused is a fugitive from justice. 15. As regards the deaths of Diana Maidanik, Laura Raggio, and Silvia Reyes, the State reported that the 28th Criminal Court was in charge of the investigation. The State underscored the importance of this case, which is tied to the disappearance of Washington Barrios, Silvia Reyes's husband, given that the Executive Branch had ruled Law 15.848 inapplicable, thereby establishing a new interpretation criterion, according to which judges had to investigate the facts relating to the disappeared detainees, instead of merely remitting the files in question to the Executive. 16. At the same time, as regards the Expiry Law, the State pointed out that, as of 2014, the Supreme Court of Justice had been dismissing unconstitutionality objections filed against Articles 2 and 3 of Law 18.831, commonly known as the Law Interpreting the Prescription Law, so that currently there was no legal impediment to investigating, prosecuting, and punishing crimes committed during the dictatorship. 17. As for the search for the alleged victims, the State reported that, as of 2015, new efforts had been undertaken to investigate what had happened to and the whereabouts of those who disappeared during the dictatorship, including inspections of such sites as military facilities used as detention and torture centers. The State mentioned that on August 27, 2019, the Uruguayan Forensic Archeology Investigation Group found remains of human bones of men or women in the precincts of what used to be Armored Infantry Battalion No. 13, in the course of routine work being carried out over the past few years in that Battalion: an indication of the national authorities' efforts to throw light on the lamentable acts that occurred during the dictatorship in Uruguay. 18. In addition, the State reported that the next-of-kin of the five victims had received reparation under Article 11.a of Law 18.596 and that their case files had been archived once they had collected the compensation awards. 19. The State likewise reported progress with a number of broader steps taken to overcome the impunity surrounding acts committed during the dictatorship. It said they included: 1. The passing of Law 18.596 acknowledging the illegitimacy of State acts between 1968 and 1973 and labeling as State terrorism the regime to which the Republic of Uruguay was subjected from 1978 to 1985; 2. The passing of law 18.831, reinstating the State’s right to punish in all cases covered by Law 15.848 and characterizing crimes against humanity and their imprescriptibility (exclusion from any statute of limitations); 3. The establishment of the Truth and Justice Working Group through Executive Branch Decree No. 131/2015, to search for persons disappeared between June 13, 1968 and February 28, 1985; 4. The establishment of a team specializing in serious human rights violations in connection with the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, which works together with justice system operators and the Office of the Attorney General; 5. The passing of Law 19.550, which empowered the Office of the Attorney General to transform a National Public Prosecutor's office into a Public Prosecutor's Office specializing in Crimes against Humanity: a change enacted in February 2019, prompting a revival of lawsuits; 6. The presentation of a bill in August 2019 providing that authority to search 3