IACHR
Press Release
IACHR Expands Precautionary Measures in Favor of Eight People Who are Deprived of Their Freedom in Venezuela
June 23, 2020
Washington, D.C. - On June 17, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 26/2020 (link in Spanish), through which it granted precautionary protection measures in favor of Emirlendris Carolina Benitez Rosales and a further seven people who are being deprived of their freedom in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights.
The petition alleges that the people in question are being deprived of their liberty and are not receiving adequate medical care for their medical conditions, despite several requests for this. The IACHR expressed its regret over not having received observations from the state on this matter, despite the fact that these were requested, in accordance with article 25.5 of its Rules of Procedure. Having deemed that the regulatory requirements had been met, the IACHR requested that Venezuela a) adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life, personal integrity, and health of the people listed as beneficiaries in the resolution in question. It specifically requested that the state ensure that the beneficiaries have access to the medical treatments prescribed for them by competent authorities; b) agree on any measures to be adopted in consultation with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and c) implement actions to investigate the events that led to the adoption of these precautionary measures so as to prevent them from being repeated.
The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted 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 all applicable instruments have been violated.
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. 144/20