IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of police officer G.O.F. and his family in Colombia

September 25, 2024

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 66/2024 on September 19, 2024, to grant precautionary measures in favor of G.O.F. and his wife and three daughters in Colombia, in the belief that they face a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their rights.

The request for these precautionary measures argued that G.O.F., a patrol officer of the National Police, had received death threats after refusing to return explosives that had been entrusted to him by two officers of the Anti-Narcotics Unit who were allegedly planning to turn them over to the rebel group known as National Liberation Army (ELN). After reporting these events and handing over the explosives to the Office of Colombia's Attorney General, G.O.F. and his family started to receive threats in writing and through phone calls.

This forced the family to repeatedly leave their home, but their whereabouts were reportedly leaked and again put them at risk. Despite having reported these threats to the authorities, the family is allegedly yet to be granted protection measures.

The Colombian State reported that the Office of the Attorney General had launched an investigation of the threats and that they had made recommendations to the family, to enable their self-protection. The State further noted that there are protection schemes in place for public officials, victims, and witnesses, and that the National Police has the power to grant protection measures. The State stressed the need for complaints to be filed with the authorities of competent jurisdiction, to trigger the relevant mechanisms.

The IACHR commended the State on the actions it had taken, including the launch of an investigation and the provision of a self-protection manual. However, the IACHR noted that threats against G.O.F. and his family persist and that, despite their repeated displacements, the risks persist due to leaks about their whereabouts.

The IACHR also found that no material protection measures had been taken to preserve the beneficiaries' lives and integrity, which makes them more vulnerable. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Colombia to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to protect the beneficiaries' rights to life and personal integrity, among others through appropriate protocols to ensure that all information concerning their condition and whereabouts remains confidential
2. Come to an agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives concerning any measures that need to be taken
3. Report on any actions adopted to investigate the events that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures, in order to prevent such events from happening again in the future

The fact that these precautionary measures have been granted 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 rights protected by the applicable instruments.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 222/24

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