IACHR Decides to Expand Precautionary Measures in Favor of Member of the Citizens' Committee for Racial Integration in Cuba

April 8, 2021

Washington D.C. - On April 5, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 30/2021, through which it decided to expand the precautionary measures in favor of Esber Rafael Ramírez Argota, a member of the the Citizens' Committee for Racial Integration (CIR) in Cuba, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to rights to life and integrity. The IACHR has already granted precautionary measures to other members of the CIR.

The IACHR observed that the events that have allegedly taken place are part of a specific context that is currently being experienced in Cuba. Members of the CIR have been shown particularly hostile behavior, which was reflected in the actions of the State agents that perpetrated the alleged events to the detriment of the proposed beneficiary. On this point, special consideration was given to the fact that Esber Ramírez was detained and no information was provided on his whereabouts for approximately three days; his wife had been informed that "he would be detained for an indefinite period during the investigation," but his place of detention was not specified. The IACHR requested information from the State on this issue but has not received a response.

Consequently, the IACHR requested that the State of Cuba: a) take the necessary measures to guarantee the right to life and personal integrity of the beneficiary. To that end, the State must guarantee that its agents respect the beneficiary's rights while also protecting his rights in relation to third-party risk, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law; b) take the necessary measures to enable the beneficiary to go about his work as a human rights defender without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation, or other forms of harassment in the course of doing so. This includes adopting measures to ensure he can exercise his right to freedom of expression; c) agree on any measures to be adopted in consultation with the beneficiary and his representatives; and d) report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure 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 the American Convention and other 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. 088/21