IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures to Survivors of Human Trafficking in Mexico

August 15, 2023

Washington, D.C.—On August 12, 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 44/2023, through which it granted precautionary protection measures in favor of A.A.Q.O. and her immediate family in Mexico, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights.

According to the request, the person identified as A.A.Q.O. is a human rights defender. He sister, A.L.Q.O., is a survivor of human trafficking, as are her children. The requesting party reported that since 2022, the family has been subjected to surveillance, monitoring, threats, and other acts of violence against them, including threats via social media, the hacking of their accounts, and references to their locations.

The State reported that the beneficiaries have been included in the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists and have emergency numbers, panic buttons, and CCTV in their homes. A shelter is available to them, and they are included in police patrols. Cooperation between various state and federal authorities was also mentioned.

The IACHR commended the measures taken by the State and the information it provided. However, it also took into account the continued risk to which the two women are exposed despite the protection measures mentioned above and the alleged possibility of these measures being reduced. The importance of applying differentiated approaches was emphasized, given that those concerned are a defender and survivors of human trafficking.

Consequently, in accordance with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR requested that the State of Mexico:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of A.A.Q.O. and A.L.Q.O. and her immediate family. The State must implement enhanced due diligence and adopt protection measures that include a gender perspective and other relevant differentiated approaches, taking into account the fact that the case involves a human rights defender and survivors of human trafficking, which is a form of gender-based violence;
2. agree with the beneficiaries and their representatives on any action to be taken while maintaining confidentiality around the proposed beneficiaries' identity; and
3. report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this resolution 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.

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. 181/23

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