IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Embera Eyábida Indigenous People in Colombia

February 3, 2022

Washington, D.C. — On February 1, 2022, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 5/2022 (link in Spanish), through which it granted precautionary protection measures in favor of families from the Embera Eyábida indigenous people living on the Río Murindó and Río Chageradó reserves, whom it deems to be at risk.

The petitioners reported that the families of the Embera people are at risk because they are being subjected to acts of violence, threats, harassment, displacement, and assassinations as a result of the presence of armed groups in their territories. The State listed the actions being deployed by the National Police Force and the Army to guarantee the protection of the population in general and to safeguard Colombian territory.

The IACHR acknowledged the actions taken by the State and the information it had made available. However, it noted that there is no substantial information indicating that violence by armed groups in the area has ceased, which is having a negative impact on the beneficiary families. The acts of violence in question include reports of aggression, harassment, displacement, and even murder.

Under the terms of Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR decided to grant precautionary measures in favor of the Embera Eyábida Indigenous People and requested that the State of Colombia: a) adopt the culturally appropriate security measures needed to safeguard the life and personal integrity of the families living at the Río Murindó and Río Chageradó reserves; b) agree on any measures to be adopted in consultation with the beneficiaries and/or their representatives; and c) report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to this precautionary measure so as to prevent them from being repeated.

The IACHR's granting of this precautionary measure and its adoption by the State does not entail a prejudgment on any petition that may eventually be filed before the inter-American system to allege that the rights protected by any applicable instruments have been violated.

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

No. 025/22

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