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consideration that “[t]he current middle and high school education programs only include the topic of
El Salvador’s Peace Accords, the contents of which are only mentioned superficially; thus, it is
necessary to deepen students’ knowledge of the impacts caused by the armed conflict on disappeared
children and also on their families.” To summarize, the representatives considered it necessary to
modify the academic syllabus throughout the education system to include the topics of human rights
of disappeared children during the internal armed conflict and the inter-American system for the
protection of human rights. Finally, the representatives expressed their willingness to hold a dialogue
with State representatives to sign an institutional agreement to implement these measures and that
this agreement be taken as an indicator of compliance.
241. The State expressed a positive view of the proposal to revise the school study programs, in
order to expand and strengthen knowledge of El Salvador’s historical memory, related to the serious
human rights violations committed during the internal armed conflict, and pointed out that the current
social studies program for third cycle and high school students includes topics on relevant aspects of
El Salvador’s history, including the armed conflict.
Considerations of the Court
242. The Court recognizes that human rights education at different levels is crucial to ensure the
non-repetition of events such as those that occurred in the instant case and to promote values such
as tolerance and mutual respect. Furthermore, teaching people about historical processes, such as El
Salvador’s internal armed conflict and, in particular, the situation of children who disappeared during
that armed conflict, is essential to keep alive the historical memory in the future generations.
243. In consideration of the foregoing, the Court advises that the measures requested aim to satisfy
those objectives in areas that are complementary, that is, at the level of middle and university
education and at the professional level. Therefore, the Court takes note of the State’s willingness to
review the study plans and encourages the adoption of correlative measures.
244. Furthermore, the Court deems it pertinent to order the State to implement, within a reasonable
time, permanent human rights programs directed at the police, prosecutors, judges and the military,
as well as officials in charge of providing assistance to the families and victims of forced
disappearance. These programs should include topics such as the human rights of children who
disappeared during the internal armed conflict, the inter-American system for the protection of human
rights, and the doctrine of conventionality control.
5.
Other measures requested
245. The Commission asked the Court to order the State to adopt measures of non-repetition to
ensure that a comprehensive child protection system is implemented effectively, including the
strengthening and adaptation of standards of the Civil Registry and the adoption system. The State
did not comment on this request.
246. Although the adoption of abducted children formed part of the modus operandi in forced
disappearances during the Salvadoran armed conflict, (supra para. 50. e), the Court considers that,
under the terms in which this request for reparation is expressed, and the lack of arguments in this
regard, it is not appropriate to order said measure since it is not directly related to the violations
established in the instant case.
247. The representatives asked the Court to order a program to guarantee the victims’ next of kin
and their children who express an interest in studying, access to education, leading to professional
development and financial improvement, “in order to guarantee a right to which they did not have
access or opportunities due to the circumstances of the armed conflict, which caused them to be