IACHR Grants Precautionary Protection Measures in Favor of Carlos Ramon Brenes Sánchez and His Immediate Family in Nicaragua

March 1, 2021

Washington, DC—On Feburary 25, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 17/2021 [link in Spanish], through which it granted precautionary protection measures in favor of Carlos Ramon Brenes Sánchez and his immediate family, in Nicaragua, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights.

Amid the circumstances currently prevailing in the country, the IACHR noted that Mr. Brenes plays a leadership role among retired members of the armed forces and within the community in Masaya and Carazo. He has also been identified as a political dissident and has had a constant presence in Nicaraguan politics over the last 20 years, particularly after the events of April 2018. In this context, the IACHR warned that Brenes has been subjected to acts of harassment, intimidation, and threats. Specifically, it noted that such acts were attributed to police officers and also targeted members of his family. The IACHR requested information from the State, in accordance with Article 25.5 of its Rules of Procedure, but has not received a response.

Consequently, the IACHR requested that the state of Nicaragua a) take the necessary measures to guarantee the right to life and personal integrity of Carlos Ramon Brenes Sánchez and his immediate family. In particular, the state must guarantee that the beneficiaries' rights are protected in accordance with the standards set out in international human rights law in terms of both the actions of its agents and any risk associated with the actions of third parties; b) determine the measures to be implemented in consultation with the beneficiary and his representatives; c) report on the actions it has taken to investigate into the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure and thus prevent them from being repeated.

The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted and its adoption by the state does not entail a prejudgment on any petition that may be filed before the inter-American system to allege that the rights protected by the American Convention and other applicable instruments have been violated.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate derives from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 046/21