The facts of the case refer to five human rights defenders who suffered threats, harassment, raids and the taking over of their homes due to their work in an area known as “Commune 13”. In addition to this neighborhood having one of the lowest quality of life indexes in the city of Medellín, the military carried out numerous operations and paramilitary groups had a presence in Commune 13 in 2002.

As a result, Ms. Ana Teresa Yarce was murdered in October 2004, and other women and their families were forced to leave to protect themselves.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights addressed violations of the right to personal freedom of the victims - who were held illegally and arbitrarily - as well as violations to the right to life and integrity given the risk they face carrying out their work as human rights defenders. The situation of displacement and the differential impact that it had on victims due to their gender was also analyzed.