Press Release
IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Kevin Adrián Monzón Mora and His Family in Nicaragua
February 23, 2021
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Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 16/2021 on February 22, 2021, to grant precautionary protection measures in favor of Kevin Adrián Monzón Mora and his family in Nicaragua, in the belief that they face a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their rights.
In Nicaragua's current context, the Commission found that, after posting several things on the social media platform TikTok, Kevin Adrián Monzón Mora was the target of threats, harassment, intimidation, and other acts of violence, even while in State custody. These attacks were blamed on police officers. Several of these events were accompanied by insults and jibes concerning the proposed beneficiary's sexual orientation. The IACHR therefore stresses the specific vulnerability he faces based on prejudice regarding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. In keeping with Article 25.5 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Nicaragua for information but has so far not received an answer.
Consequently, the Commission asked the Nicaraguan State to: a) adopt any measures necessary to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Kevin Adrián Monzón Mora and his family (in particular, the State needs both to ensure that its officers will respect beneficiaries' rights, in compliance with the standards of international human rights law, and to protect those rights from dangerous acts that may be perpetrated by third parties, including the adoption of precautionary measures so Kevin Adrián Monzón Mora can freely exercise his freedom of expression without suffering threats, intimidation, harassment, or physical assault); b) come to an agreement with beneficiaries and their representatives regarding any measures that need to be taken; and c) report on any actions adopted to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of this precautionary measure, in order to prevent such events from happening again in the future.
The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted and its 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 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 derives from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is composed 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. 040/21