previously cited norm that was issued precisely as a domestic measure for settling complaints from former employees. IV. ANALYSIS OF ADMISSIBILITY A. Ratione materiae, ratione personae, ratione loci, and ratione temporis Competence 45. As per Article 44 of the American Convention, the petitioners have the power to submit petitions before the Commission. The petition names 85 individuals as alleged victims, for whom the Peruvian State committed to respect and guarantee the rights in the American Convention.14 Peru has been a State Party to the American Convention since July 28, 1978, the date on which it deposited its ratification instrument. Therefore, the Commission has ratione personae competence to examine the petition. 46. The Commission also has ratione loci competence to hear the petition because it alleges violations of rights protected in the American Convention that would have taken place within the State’s jurisdiction. The Commission has ratione temporis to study the complaint because the obligation to respect and guarantee rights protected under the American Convention was already in force for the State on the date when the events alleged in the petition occurred. Finally, the Commission has ratione materiae competence because the petition complains of the possible violation of human rights protected under the American Convention. B. Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies 47. Article 46.1 a) of the American Convention provides that for a complaint to be admissible before the Inter-American Commission in accordance with Article 44 of the Convention an attempt must have been made to exhaust domestic remedies pursuant to the generally recognized principles of international law. The requirement of previous exhaustion applies if the national system effectively has 14 The petitioners identified as alleged victims are: 1) Asunción Mechato Serraqué, 2) Delia Arévalo Guerra, 3) Maria Elba Marchán Avila, 4) Cesar Antón Olaya, 5) Víctor Manuel Garay Espinoza, 6) Dionisio Sandoval Flores, 7) Jorge Cabanillas Dedios, 8) Pedro Infante Antón, 9) Luís Abad Saldarriaga, 10) Catalino Sandoval Ancajima, 11) Luciano Sandoval Villaseca, 12) Gonzalo Ginocchio Guerrero, 13) Julio Serraqué Azáldegui, 14) Federico Antón Antón, 15) Alberto Chira Guerrero, 16) Javier A. Espinoza Vargas, 17) Luís Tavara Ramírez, 18) Abraham Montero Ramírez, 19) Santos Calderón Ávila, 20) Juvenal Paz Arévalo, 21) Cruz Alberto More Bayona, 22) Leonarda Montero Silupú, 23) Helber R. Romero Rivera, 24) María Sancarranco Barrientos, 25) María Esther Medina Crisanto, 26) Neptalí Aguirre Maldonado, 27) Manuel Antonio Calle Atoche, 28) Carlos Alberto Zapata Olaya, 29) Carlos Alberto Galán Castilli, 30) Guadalupe Risco Martínez, 31) Gerber Acedo Martínez, 32) Luís Carrasco Lozada, 33) Lilia Flores Herrera, 34) Norberto Vilela Jiménez, 35) Agustín Acedo Martínez, 36) Nyrliam García Viera de Castillo, 37) Oholger Wiston Benites Zárate, 38) Mario Duque Mogollón, 39) Pedro López Antón, 40) Jorge Carlos Tinedo Puell, 41) Wilson Sminario Agurto, 42) Joaquín Santillán Zavala, 43) Ricardo Vílchez Valverde, 44) Carlos E. Oliva Borja, 45) Maria Anita Zavala Sosa, 46) Luís Mogollón Granda, 47) Jorge Martinez Amaya, 48) Juan Benítez Gómez, 49) Felito Vitonera Saldarriaga, 50) Antonio Esparza Huamán, 51) Gregorio Jaime Noriega González, 52) Maritza Amaya Coveñas, 53) Manuel Jesús Paiva Pacherres, 54) William Alemán Benítez, 55) Pedro Carlos Garcés Solís, 56) Irma Morales López, 57) Sebastián Amaya Fiestas, 58) Wilmer Gil Rosales, 59) Eduardo Panta Valladares, 60) Emilio Augusto Morales Silva, 61) Julio Chiroque Silva, 62) Rosa Castillo Marcelo, 63) José Torres Namucha, 64) Agustina Mendoza Morales, 65) José Juan Obando Reto, 66) Edwin Quevedo Saavedra, 67) Ricardo Quevedo Herrera, 68) Jaime Garcés Sandoval, 69) Gregorio Albuquerque Carrillo, 70) Luís Arturo Vallejo Agurto, 71) Ana María Rojas Flores, 72) Oscar Valiente Paico, 73) Fredesvinda Sócola Clavijo, 74) Juan A. Echandía Ochoa, 75) Elmer Arrazabal Gallo, 76) Miguel Hugo Morán García, 77) Raúl Clavijo Domínguez, 78) José William Jacinto Zavala, 79) José Félix Saavedra Medina, 80) Leither Quevedo, 81) Eduardo Emiliano Chavarri Vélez, 82) Pedro Chumpitaz Sócola, 83) Luís Oswaldo Duque Morán, 84) Segundo Barrientos Olivos, 85) Pedro Talledo Carrasco. 11