Inter-American Court Finds Honduras Guilty of Disappearance

On July 29, 1988, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereafter the "Court") in a far-reaching opinion ruled in favor of Juan Manfredo Velasquez Rodriguez, ordering payment of damages by the Government of Honduras for crimes committed against the former's right to life and personal integrity.  This was the first time that the Court issued a direct verdict against a member State of the Inter-American Human Rights Convention (hereafter the "Convention").