Velásquez Rodríguez Case - Inter-Am Ct. HR (Ser.C) No.4 (1988)

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights brought this action against the Government of Honduras, alleging that Honduras had violated articles 4, 5 & 7 of the American Convention on Human Rights after the detention and disappearance of a student, Velásquez Rodríguez. The Court held that a pattern of kidnappings carried out by the Police and military personnel had taken place in Honduras between 1981 and 1984, and compensation was due to the victims. Unusually, the Court heard a great deal of circumstantial evidence, and it was on the basis of this that it was decided that a violation of the victim's human rights had occurred.

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