IACHR grants precautionary measures to Angélica Chavarría in Nicaragua

January 14, 2025

Washington, DC—On January 10, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 4/2025 granting precautionary measures to Angélica Patricia Chavarría Altamirano, after determining her rights to life and personal integrity to be at grave and urgent risk of experiencing irreparable harm in Nicaragua.

The petitioning party stated that the beneficiary's whereabouts are currently unknown. Angélica Chavarría and her partner were placed under incommunicado house arrest on May 19, 2024. Since the death of her partner in September 2024, her family has been unable to ascertain where she is being held. State authorities have failed to provide official information on her location or condition or to respond to the IACHR's inquiries.

After analyzing the factual and legal arguments presented, the IACHR concluded that the beneficiary is at risk and that her rights may be further endangered. This conclusion was based on the fact that her whereabouts remain unknown and no information has been provided by the State regarding the measures being taken to address the risk she is exposed to or efforts to locate her. Consequently, in accordance with article 25 of the Rules of Procedure, the IACHR requested that the State of Nicaragua:

1. take the necessary measures to ascertain the beneficiary's whereabouts and current condition in order to protect her rights to life and personal integrity;
2. report whether she is in state custody and provide details on the circumstances and conditions of her detention. Specifically, the State must report where she is being held and allow her access to her legal representatives, family, and any healthcare she requires;
3. report on the measures taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the granting of these precautionary measures, with the aim of preventing them from occurring 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 American Convention on Human Rights and other 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. 011/25

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