A/HRC/13/42* page 32 65. In the late 1970s, during an on-site observation in El Salvador, a special commission86 verified the existence of a group of cells in which, according to claimants, several people were being detained in secret and tortured.87 The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights received reports alleging that the authorities of El Salvador were holding individuals arbitrarily in secret places of the National Guard, the National Police and the Treasury Police.88 66. In Peru, the vast majority of more than 3,000 cases of disappearances reported to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances occurred between 1983 and 1992 in the context of the Government’s fight against terrorist organizations, especially the Communist Party of Peru (Sendero Luminoso).89 A number of cases of secret detention were examined by the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.90 67. In Uruguay, many disappeared persons were reported to be held in clandestine detention centres, allegedly run by Argentine and Uruguayan military personnel.91 The Inter-American Commission also received consistent reports of prolonged incommunicado detentions in the country during the 1970s and 1980s.92 These and other allegations of clandestine detention centres were later confirmed by the final report of the Peace Commission.93 68. More generally, during the 1970s and 1980s, Latin American Governments adopted legislation concentrating all powers in the executive branch, including decisions on detentions, their form and place. The legislation itself was in most cases extremely broad, providing for a vague definition of terrorism-related crimes, treated as political or ideological offences, and subject to disproportionate sanctions.94 69. The practice of secret detention was also facilitated by the introduction of states of emergency, followed by repeated renewals or extensions and, in some cases, by straightforward 86 Established by decree No. 9 of 6 November 1979. 87 OEA/Ser.L/V/II.46, doc. 23 rev. 1, 17 November 1978. See also E/CN.4/1984/21, para. 163. 88 OEA/Ser.L/V/II.46, doc. 23 rev. 1. 89 E/CN.4/1998/43, para. 296. 90 Final report of the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, V. VI, Chap. 1, sect. 1.2 and 1.4, available at the address www.cverdad.org.pe/ingles/ifinal/index.php. 91 E/CN.4/1985/15, para. 233. 92 OEA/Ser.L/V/II.43, doc. 19, corr.1, 31 January 1978. 93 Informe Final de La Comisión Para La Paz, 10 April 2003 (Uruguay), available at the address www.usip.org/files/file/resources/collections/commissions/Uruguay-Report_Informal.pdf. 94 See for example, law. 20.840 and 21.264 in Argentina; decree law No. 5 in Chile; and the National Security and Public Order Law (July 1972) in Uruguay.