and the case law of this Court itself, have pronounced on the most serious forms of forced
disappearance, these sources should not be understood as covering all possible modalities of this
serious human rights violation or as excluding others not set out in them. Therefore, in some
cases, the analysis of the disappearance based solely on the three elements mentioned may be
insufficient or unnecessary (supra para. 86).
95. In this regard, as established in the Case of Isaza Uribe et al. v. Colombia in this case, the
Court notes that the alleged forced disappearance occurred while the presumed victim was
deprived of their liberty in a state establishment.128 As stated on that occasion, it is pertinent to
remember that the State of Ecuador was in a special position as a guarantor of Fredy Núñez
Naranjo. Such position is derived, on one hand, from the fact that prison authorities exercise heavy
control or command over the persons in their custody129; and, on the other hand, by the particular
rigor with which the State is able to regulate their rights and obligations and owing to the
circumstances inherent in internment.130 As a result of the aforementioned guarantor position, the
State had a particular duty of custody towards Fredy Núñez Naranjo precisely because he was under
the surveillance and care of the police station agents.
96. The Court highlights that, from the moment the community members presented themselves
at the police station, state agents were aware of their place from which they had come.131 As
previously indicated, despite the proximity between said place and the station (three kilometers
away), the police officers did not turn to or request that another authority assist these communities
in order to recover Fredy Núñez Naranjo (supra para. 92). In fact, even though the second police
report comes from a lieutenant who was leading about twenty agents and the report was addressed
to the province police commander, just a few hours before the transfer of Fredy Núñez Naranjo to
the Puñachizag community (supra para. 47), there is no evidence that the group of police officers
present or the provincial police took any effort to rescue the alleged victim.
97. This Court recalls that, according to its case law, the State's failure to clarify the facts is a
sufficient and reasonable element to lend weight to the evidence and belief that a forced
disappearance was perpetrated, or to conclude that such even had happened when the person
was under state custody (supra para. 87). Precisely for this reason, the State's defense cannot
rest on the lack of evidence when it is the State itself that has control over the means to clarify
the facts (supra para. 85).
98. Taking the above into account, the Court finds that the State failed to fulfill the duty of
custody that corresponded to it due to its position as guarantor of Fredy Núñez Naranjo. For this
reason, by virtue of the reasons stated, this Court considers that in this case a forced
disappearance was committed, attributable to the State of Ecuador.
B.3 Conclusions about the alleged violations
99. In accordance with the Court’s case law, the forced disappearance of Fredy Núñez Naranjo
implies the violation of his rights to juridical personality (Article 3), to life (Article 4(1)), to humane
Cf. Case of Isaza Uribe et al. v. Colombia, supra, para. 85.
Cf. Case of Neira Alegría et al. v. Peru. Merits. Judgment of January 19, 1995. Series C No. 20, para. 60, and Case
of Mota Abarullo et al. v. Venezuela. Merits, Reparations, and Costs. Judgment of November 18, 2020. Series C No. 417,
para. 88.
130
Cf. Case of the "Juvenile Reeducation Institute" v. Paraguay. Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations, and Costs.
Judgment of September 2, 2004. Series C No. 112, para. 152, and Case of Mota Abarullo et al. v. Venezuela, supra, para.
88.
131
Cf. Police reports issued on July 15, 2001 at 5:30 PM and at 7:00 PM (case file of evidence, pages 1656 and 1660).
128
129
-29-