IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Vicente Iván Suástegui Muñoz and His Family in Mexico

November 23, 2021

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 93/2021 on November 23, 2021, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Vicente Iván Suástegui Muñoz and his family in Mexico, in the belief that they face a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their rights.

The information that was submitted by the parties indicated that the fate and whereabouts of Suástegui Muñoz had remained unknown since August 5, 2021, despite the investigations and searches that had been launched by the State. Further, several members of the family of Suástegui Muñoz allegedly faced retaliation for reporting his disappearance and looking for him in an area where criminal gangs were said to be active.

The IACHR took this into consideration, along with the specific details of the matter, to grant these precautionary measures based on the standards that are applicable prima facie and on Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure. The Commission asked Mexico to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to establish Suástegui Muñoz' fate and whereabouts, in order to protect his rights to life and personal integrity
2. Adopt any measures necessary to protect the lives and personal integrity of the members of Suástegui Muñoz' family that have been identified in the resolution
3. Report on any actions adopted to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures, 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.

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. 314/21

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