5.On February 21, 2005 the petitioner submitted additional information. On February 24, 2005, the IACHR forwarded to the State the relevant parts of the petitioner’s observations, as well as the additional information received, granting it one month to present its observations to the IACHR. On April 12, 2005, the State submitted a report to the IACHR with additional observations on the petitioner’s communications. The State’s report was forwarded to the petitioner on April 21, 2005, granting her one month to submit her observations. The petitioner submitted additional observations on the petition on May 27, 2005. On June 20, 2005, the IACHR transmitted this information to the State, granting it one month to submit observations. 6. The IACHR was informed on September 5, 2005 that from that day forward the petitioner would be represented by CEJIL. On January 25, 2006, CEJIL informed the IACHR that the Red de No Violencia contra las Mujeres en Guatemala [Network against Violence against Women in Guatemala] was joining the case as a petitioner, and the petitioners submitted additional observations on the petition, which were forwarded to the State on January 27, 2006, granting it 20 days to submit its own observations. On February 14, 2006, the State requested an extension of 30 days, which the IACHR granted. 7. On March 24, 2006, the State submitted additional observations on the petition, which were forwarded to the petitioners on April 7, 2006. On May 1, 2006, the petitioners responded to the additional observations presented by the State. On May 24, 2006, the State submitted additional observations on this petition, which were forwarded to the petitioners on June 2, 2006. The State submitted additional information to the IACHR on a July 13, 2006 communication, which was forwarded to the petitioners on August 3, 2006. A. Request for Precautionary Measures 8. On June 27, 2005, the petitioner requested from the IACHR the grant of precautionary measures in favor of her and her family. She alleged that she feared for her life and personal integrity and for the lives and personal integrity of her family, as they were the victims of constant and permanent harassment, persecution and threats by unknown armed persons. On November 16, 2005, the Commission decided to grant precautionary measures for a period of six months to Rosa Elvira Franco Sandoval, Leonel Enrique Véliz Franco, José Roberto Franco Sandoval and Cruz Elvira Sandoval Polanco. In connection with the entry into force of the precautionary measures, the IACHR received an August 4, 2006 communication from the State, concluding that: “so long as the State does not clarify the instant case, the conditions of risk, vulnerability, and extreme urgency continue to exist; consequently a reasonable time period is requested of the IACHR, in order for the State to report on the progress of the investigation and to comply with its constitutional and international obligations regarding the protection of human rights.” Said communication was transmitted to the petitioners on August 8, 2006, granting them 30 days to submit their observations. III. POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES A. The petitioners 9. The petitioners allege that the State is responsible for gaps and irregularities in the investigation of the facts related to the disappearance and subsequent death of María Isabel Véliz Franco, of 15 years of age. They contend that on December 17, 2001, Ms. Rosa Elvira Franco Sandoval de Véliz reported the disappearance of her daughter María Isabel Véliz Franco to the Policía Nacional Civil [National Civil Police] (hereinafter PNC), whose body was found the next day. The petitioners allege that, from the moment of the report, the Guatemalan authorities have incurred, by action or by omission, in serious violations of due process, resulting in an ineffective investigation. Moreover, they assert that, from the beginning of the investigation, the responsible state agents, instead of investigating the facts, have focused their efforts on discrediting the victim and her mother. In addition, in the case of Rosa Elvira 2