2 Table of contents Paragraphs I. INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND PURPOSE OF THE DISPUTE 1 II. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT 8 III. COMPETENCE 15 IV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY 17 V. EVIDENCE 29 VI. 1. Documentary, testimonial and expert evidence 30 2. Admission of the documentary evidence 3. Admission of the testimony of the victims and of the expert opinions 32 38 CONTEXT 40 A. The armed conflict 41 B. 1980-1983: “the institutionalization of violence” 48 C. The systematic pattern of forced disappearances of children during the armed conflict in El Salvador 51 VII. RIGHTS TO PERSONAL LIBERTY, HUMANE TREATMENT, LIFE, JURIDICAL PERSONALITY, PRIVACY AND FAMILY LIFE, IDENTITY, PROTECTION OF THE FAMILY, A NAME, AND OF THE CHILD IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT AND GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS 56 A. Facts related to the forced disappearance of Ana Julia and Carmelina Mejía Ramírez 58 B. Facts related to the forced disappearance of Gregoria Herminia, Serapio Cristian and Julia Inés Contreras 63 C. 71 Facts related to the forced disappearance of José Rubén Rivera Rivera D. The forced disappearance of children as a multiple and continuing violation of human rights and of the obligation to respect and guarantee rights 80 E. The right to personal integrity of Gregoria Herminia Contreras 95 F. The right of the children to protection of the family, a name, privacy and family life and identity 103 G. The right to personal integrity of the next of kin 119 VIII. RIGHTS TO PERSONAL LIBERTY, JUDICIAL GUARANTEES, JUDICIAL PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT AND GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS 125