The facts of the case concern the forced disappearance of Saúl Godínez Cruz in July 1982, while he was ON HIS WAY TO WORK as a teacher/ while he was on his way to teach. The victim was an active union leader and had participated in various strikes initiated in that/this period.

The IA Court applied the standards developed in the case of Velásquez Rodríguez regarding the elements and characteristics of forced disappearance, taking into consideration the prevailing historical context at the time of the events. Equally, the IA Court established standards developing the characteristics of obligation through the state duty to prevent and sanction.