ratification on June 23, 1978. Accordingly, the Commission is competent ratione personae to examine the allegations. 20. In addition, it is competent ratione materiae because the petitioners adduce violations of rights protected by the American Convention. The State notes that the applicable law during the internal armed conflict was international humanitarian law. In this respect, the Commission considers that the circumstance that some of the facts alleged had occurred in the context of an armed conflict does not negate the power of this Commission to rule on them. Article 27 of the Convention allows for the suspension of certain rights in the context of armed conflicts, but by no means does it suspend the force of the Convention in its entirety, nor deprive this Commission of its powers. While these considerations are put forth here, the IACHR must still analyze the obligations of the State that emanate from the Convention in light of the provisions of international humanitarian law, which will be used in the interpretation aslex specialis. 21. The Commission is competent ratione temporis to examine the allegations. The petition was based on allegations concerning events that took place as of August 25, 1982, the date the disappearance of the Contreras siblings is alleged to have begun. The facts adduced occurred, therefore, after the entry into force of the State’s obligations as a party to the American Convention. In addition, as the petition alleges violations of rights protected under the American Convention that took place in the territory of a state party, the Commission concludes that it is competent ratione loci to take cognizance of it. B. Other requirements for the admissibility of the petition 22. Article 46 of the Convention establishes additional requirements, as follows: 1.Admission by the Commission of a petition or communication lodged in accordance with Articles 44 or 45 shall be subject to the following requirements: a.that the remedies under domestic law have been pursued and exhausted in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law; b. that the petition or communication is lodged within a period of six months from the date on which the party alleging violation of his rights was notified of the final judgment; c.that the subject of the petition or communication is not pending in another international proceeding for settlement; and d. that, in the case of Article 44, the petition contains the name, nationality, profession, domicile, and signature of the person or persons or of the legal representative of the entity lodging the petition. The requirements established by this Article have exceptions, as follows: 2.The provisions of paragraphs 1.a and 1.b of this article shall not be applicable when: a.the domestic legislation of the state concerned does not afford due process of law for the protection of the right or rights that have allegedly been violated; b.the party alleging violation of his rights has been denied access to the remedies under domestic law or has been prevented from exhausting them; or c.there has been unwarranted delay in rendering a final judgment under the aforementioned remedies. 1. Exhaustion of domestic remedies 5