“nanas”) looked after the children on arrival, they were unaware of their subsequent fate. Consequently, the representatives considered that the National Search Commission should send a report to the Court with details of the measures being taken to find Julia Inés Contreras. Lastly, with regard to the case of the sisters Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez, the representatives observed that the information provided did not permit verifying whether “systematic and rigorous” measures were being taken. Consequently, they asked the Court to find that the discovery of Julia Inés Contreras, and of Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez was pending compliance and to continue monitoring this measure, and to require the State to present more detailed information on the measures being taken to this end. 17. The Commission assessed positively the efforts deployed by the State to achieve the identification of two of the victims and to permit the reunion of one of them with his biological family. It awaited information on the measures adopted: (i) to facilitate the reunion of José Rubén Rivera Rivera with his biological family; (ii) to organize the reestablishment of the right to identity of these two individuals, and (iii) to provide them with psychosocial assistance adapted to their needs. Regarding the other victims, it considered it relevant to have updated information describing the measures taken to find them. 18. First, the Court appreciates the successful culmination of the efforts made by the State to find José Rubén Rivera Rivera alive, through the actions of the National Commission for the Search for Children Disappeared during the Internal Armed Conflict, as well as the efforts made by the Asociación Pro-Búsqueda de Niños and Niñas Desaparecidos, which also led to finding Serapio Cristian Contreras alive, and reiterates its recognition of the important work carried out by this organization. In this regard, the Court stresses the importance of compliance with this measure in order to realize the right of both the victims and of their families to know the truth about what happened. In the case of the families, because it permits knowing the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones and completing their knowledge of all the circumstances of the forced disappearance and, thus, ending their long search. For the children who were seized, the knowledge of what happened allows them to reconstruct their biological and historical truth, including the circumstances of their birth, family life, and appropriation, as well as to restore the right to identity, in both the personal, and also the family and social sphere. Lastly, the Court underscores the relevance of compliance with this measure of reparation for Salvadoran society in general, because knowing the truth about the facts of the heinous human rights violations that occurred during the domestic armed conflict and, in particular, the forced disappearances of children, ensures that events of this nature and severity are never repeated. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the aspect of the reparation relating to the determination of the whereabouts of Serapio Cristian Contreras and José Rubén Rivera Rivera has been complied with fully. 19. However, the Court notes that, according to the Judgment, the State’s obligation also includes the duty to “assume the expenses […] of the reunion, and of the necessary psychosocial care; it must provide a means of re-establishing their identity and make the efforts required to facilitate family reunification, should they so wish.”14 With regard to Serapio Cristian Contreras, the Court appreciates the fact that, on August 9, 20121, he was reunited with his biological family, so that it also considers that this aspect of the reparation has been fulfilled. Nevertheless, the measures for re-establishing his identity with the appropriate psychosocial assistance, if he so desires, remain pending. 14 Case of Contreras et al. v. El Salvador. Merits, reparations and costs. Judgment of August 31, 2011. Series C No. 232, para. 192. 8

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