IACHR Extends Precautionary Measures in Favor of Yubrank Miguel Suazo Herrera in Nicaragua

June 14, 2022

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 25/2022 on June 13, 2022, to extend precautionary measures in favor of Yubrank Miguel Suazo Herrera in Nicaragua, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights.

The request for this extension says that Suazo was arrested in May 2022 and taken to the facilities operated by the Judicial Support Department (DAJ, by its Spanish acronym) known as Nuevo Chipote. His father was allegedly also attacked at the time. The Commission noted that the arrest was violent and that the authorities refused to provide information about the reasons for that arrest and about Suazo's whereabouts. Relatives and lawyers have been denied access to information about the situation that might enable them to seek suitable remedies.

The IACHR further noted that the authorities had failed to grant protection to both Suazo and his family, although precautionary measures had been granted in their favor five years earlier. In keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Nicaragua for information but did not receive an answer.

After assessing the data provided in the request for this extension, the IACHR considered that it complied with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure. The IACHR therefore asked the State of Nicaragua to take the following action:

1. adopt any measures necessary to protect Yubrank Miguel Suazo Herrera's rights to life and personal integrity (in particular, the State needs both to ensure that its officers will respect the beneficiary's rights, in compliance with the standards of international human rights law, and to protect those rights from dangerous acts that may be perpetrated by third parties);
2. facilitate, with a view to verifying the beneficiary's circumstances, Suazo's access to his legal counsel, along with family visits, in compliance with the applicable international standards;
3. come to an agreement with the beneficiary and his representatives concerning any measures that need to be taken; and
4. report on any actions adopted to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures.

The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted and its 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 rights protected by the applicable instruments.

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. 135/22

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