IACHR grants precautionary measures to Italian National Alberto Trentini in Venezuela

January 7, 2025

Washington, DC—On January 7, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 2/2025 granting precautionary measures to Alberto Trentini, whose rights to life and personal integrity it deems to be at grave and urgent risk of experiencing irreparable harm in Venezuela.

Alberto Trentini is an Italian national who has been working with the NGO Humanity and Inclusion in Venezuela since October 2024. On November 15, 2024, he was detained by members of the Administrative Service for Identification, Migration, and Alien Affairs (SAIME) and was subsequently handed over to the Department of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) and transferred to Caracas. His NGO attempted to file a writ of habeas corpus, but authorities reportedly refused to accept it or provide information about his whereabouts. To date, the Venezuelan government has not responded to the IACHR's requests, and the deadline for a reply has expired.

Given that Alberto Trentini's whereabouts remain unknown, the IACHR deems his situation to be grave and urgent. Consequently, it requested that the Venezuelan State:

1. take all necessary measures to protect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity. Specifically, the State must officially confirm whether he is in state custody and provide details regarding his detention or outline the steps being taken to determine his whereabouts or fate;
2. take the necessary measures to ensure that his conditions of detention are compatible with the applicable international standards on this matter, including:
   1. guaranteeing regular contact with family members and legal representatives, as well as communication with the Italian authorities;
   2. providing official information on his legal status and any criminal proceedings in which he may be involved, including the reasons for his continued detention and whether a court has reviewed his case; and
   3. conducting an immediate medical evaluation and ensuring he has access to any healthcare he might need;
3. agree on any measures to be taken with the beneficiary and his representatives; and
4. report on any actions taken to investigate the circumstances that gave rise to these precautionary measures to ensure they do not occur again.

The granting of these precautionary measures and their implementation by the State does not constitute a decision on any petitions that may be filed with the inter-American system concerning violations of rights protected by the applicable instruments.

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. 008/25

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