IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures to Human Rights Defender Julio César Góngora Millo in Cuba

April 12, 2024

Washington, D.C. — On April 10, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 21/2024 (link in Spanish) granting precautionary protection measures to Julio César Góngora Millo in Cuba, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his human rights.

According to the request, the proposed beneficiary is a human rights activist whom the State has identified as a "counterrevolutionary" or "dissident." As a result, he has reportedly suffered threats, intimidation, harassment, and surveillance attributed to State agents. It has also been alleged that the State has retaliated by denying him medical treatment. The deadline for the State to respond to the IACHR has passed without the State having done so.

After analyzing the available information, the IACHR deemed that the allegations are part of the context experienced by individuals in Cuba country who defend and promote human rights. Likewise, the allegations concern acts attributable to the State that endanger the beneficiary and affect his health, with the aim of impeding his activism.

Therefore, in accordance with Rule 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR requested that the State of Cuba:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity;
2. take such protective measures as necessary to enable the beneficiary to continue defending human rights without being subjected to threats, intimidation, harassment, or acts of violence. This implies, among other things, that the State should provide the appropriate medical care to enable him to go about his work; and
3. report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure so as to prevent them from being repeated.

The granting of these precautionary measures and their adoption by the State do not entail a prejudgment on a potential petition that may be filed before the inter-American system to allege violations of the rights protected by the American Convention on Human Rights and other applicable instruments.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up 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. 071/24

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