IACHR
Press Release
IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Yirley Judith Velasco Garrido and her Family in Colombia
July 24, 2020
Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 40/2020 on July 17, 2020, to grant precautionary protection measures in favor of Yirley Judith Velasco Garrido and her family, in the belief that they face a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable damage to their rights in the context of Velasco Garrido’s work as a social leader and human rights defender in Colombia.
After assessing the legal and factual allegations submitted by the parties, the Commission considers that the information that has been received shows prima facie that the rights to life and personal integrity of Yirley Judith Velasco Garrido and her family are at risk. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of the IACHR’s Rules of Procedure, the Commission asks Colombia to take the following action: (a) adopt any measures necessary to preserve the rights to life and personal integrity of Yirley Judith Velasco Garrido and her family; (b) take any measures necessary to ensure that the beneficiary can continue to do her work as a human rights defender without being subjected to threats, harassment, or any other acts of violence; (c) come to an agreement with the beneficiaries and their representatives regarding any measures that need to be taken; and (d) report on any actions taken to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of this resolution, to prevent such events from happening again in the future.
The fact that precautionary measures have been granted and their adoption by the State do not entail a prejudgment concerning a potential violation of rights protected by the American Convention on Human Rights and other applicable instruments.
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. 176/20