The facts of the case refer to the forced disappearance of Rosendo Radilla Pachecho subsequent to being detained by military officials in August 1974. The victim was involved in political and social activities connected with groups of coffee growers and farmers in the Guerrero region. The IA Court placed the events in a context known as the “Dirty war of the seventies,” during which there was a high occurrence of forced disappearances of people.

The IA Court applied standards regarding forced disappearance as a multiple violation of human rights and concerning due diligence in judicial investigation. In this regard, the IA Court established limits on the “historical truth” documented in reports and recommendations, acknowledging that this does not substitute State duty to carry out judicial investigations. In addition, it set standards regarding military jurisdiction with relation to the hearing of human rights’ violations cases.