IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of Leocenis Manuel García Osorio in Venezuela

October 31, 2024

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 79/2024 on October 28, 2024, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Leocenis Manuel García Osorio in Venezuela, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights.

According to the request for these precautionary measures, the proposed beneficiary is a journalist and a leader of the ProCiudadanos political party in Venezuela. On September 11, 2024, he was allegedly stopped by officers of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN, by its Spanish acronym) after posting on social media a video where he rejected the national government's actions against Venezuelans. Since then, no official information has been provided concerning his whereabouts or health condition, although his father has sought to find out where he is being held. This lack of information has prevented his family from pursuing domestic remedies. The State has failed to respond to the allegations, so the IACHR has no way to assess any measures that might have been taken in favor of García Osorio.

After assessing the legal and factual allegations in this case, the IACHR found that uncertainty about García Osorio's location and about his legal status mean that he is not being granted effective judicial protection. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Venezuela to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to protect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity (in particular, the State should say among others whether García Osorio is in State custody and disclose the reasons for his arrest; state whether the beneficiary has been taken before a court of competent jurisdiction so his detention might be reviewed after he was formally charged with any crimes, or alternatively clarify the reasons why García Osorio has not been released to date; state whether the beneficiary has undergone a medical examination and provide any relevant documentation; and enable contact between the beneficiary and his family and trusted legal counsel, providing all necessary official information concerning his legal status)
2. Implement any measures necessary to enable García Osorio to conduct his political activities without being subjected to threats, harassment, or any other acts of violence
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 these precautionary measures have been granted and their 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 an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 272/24

10:15 AM