-90- 178. Should the State, when complying with its obligation to investigate and trace Ernestina and Erlinda Serrano Cruz, determine that they have died, the State must comply with the right of the next of kin to know where their remains are and, if possible, deliver the remains to their siblings so that they may honor them according to their beliefs and customs.57 The Court has stated that the mortal remains of a person must be treated with respect because of their significance to their next of kin.58 179. Even though more than 22 years have elapsed since Ernestina and Erlinda were last seen by their next of kin, the Court considers it probable that they are still alive, since the children who disappeared in the 1982 “guinda de mayo” and who have been traced by the Asociación Pro-Búsqueda were found alive, and it is alleged that Ernestina and Erlinda also disappeared in the 1982 “guinda de mayo” (supra para. 48(8)). As revealed by information submitted to these proceedings, the Asociación Pro-Búsqueda has been able to trace approximately 246 young people who disappeared during the armed conflict for different reasons, even though it has not received the required cooperation from the State in its search. The Court considers that the active participation of the State and all its authorities and institutions in the search will make a very important contribution to resolving the problem of the children who disappeared during the armed conflict. 180. Based on the foregoing, the Court considers it fair and just to order El Salvador, in compliance with its obligation to investigate the reported facts, to identify and punish those responsible and to conduct a genuine search for the victims, to eliminate all the obstacles and mechanisms de facto and de jure that hinder compliance with these obligation in this case, using all possible means, either through the criminal proceedings or by the adoption of other suitable measures.59 181. The State must use all the appropriate financial, technical, scientific and other means to trace Ernestina and Erlinda Serrano Cruz, requesting the cooperation of other States and international organizations, should this be necessary. 182. The Court will now refer to some of the measures the State must adopt in order to trace Ernestina and Erlinda. b) Establishment of a national commission to trace the young people who disappeared when they were children during the armed conflict, with the participation of civil society 183. The Court takes into account that on October 5, 2004, the President of El Salvador issued Executive Decree No. 45, creating the “Inter-institutional Commission to trace children who disappeared as a result of the armed conflict in El Salvador.” However, the Court notes that this Decree did not contain specific 57 Cf. Case of the 19 Tradesmen, supra note 15, para. 265; Case of Molina Theissen. Reparations, supra note 4, para. 85; and Case of Juan Humberto Sánchez, supra note 21, para. 187. 58 Cf. Case of the 19 Tradesmen, supra note 15, para. 265; Trujillo Oroza case. Reparations (Art. 63(1) American Convention on Human Rights). Judgment of February 27, 2002. Series C No. 92, para. 115; and Case of Bámaca Velásquez. Reparations, supra note 52, para. 81. 59 Cf. Case of Carpio Nicolle et al., supra note 3, para. 134; and Case of Myrna Mack Chang, supra note 8, para. 77.

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