The IACHR extends precautionary measures to two people associated with the San Isidro Movement in Cuba

March 30, 2021

Washington, D.C.- On March 24, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 29/2021, whereby it granted precautionary measures in favor of Aminta D'Cárdenas Soroa and Carlos Manuel Álvarez, both associated with the San Isidro Movement (MSI) upon considering that they are at serious and urgent risk of irreparable harm to their rights to life and personal integrity in Cuba. These precautionary measures are related to those granted on February 11, 2021 in favor of 20 identified members of the MSI.

Within the current context of Cuba, the Commission considered that the proposed beneficiaries shared common risk factors with the other members of MSI who have been granted precautionary measures. It was identified that these individuals were also subjected to intense police control, which was not limited to surveillance but also sought to prevent them from performing activities related to the Movement. In this sense, the IACHR noted that state agents were closely monitoring the beneficiaries' actions and even tracking their movements between provinces in the country. In the case of Carlos Manuel Alvarez, after being detained, he was reportedly subject to acts of aggression after having been summoned to the police station.

The Commission requested information from the State pursuant to the terms set forth in Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure but did not obtain any response. The Commission regrets the lack of response by the State.

Accordingly, the IACHR requested that Cuba: a) adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the two identified beneficiaries associated with the San Isidro Movement. To this end, the State must ensure that state actors respect the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries, and protect their rights in relation to acts of risk attributable to third parties, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law; b) adopt the necessary measures so that the beneficiaries can carry out their activities as human rights defenders without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation and harassment in the exercise of their work; c) agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and, d) report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent them from reoccurring.

The granting of a precautionary measure and its adoption by the State do not constitute a prejudgment on any eventual requests before the Inter-American system which alleges possible violations of the rights protected in the American Convention and other applicable instruments.

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. 078/21