IACHR grants precautionary measures to Carlos José Correa Barros, human rights defender in Venezuela

January 10, 2025

Washington, DC—On January 10, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 3/2025 granting precautionary measures to Carlos José Correa Barros, whose rights to life and personal integrity it deems to be at grave and urgent risk of experiencing irreparable harm in Venezuela.

Carlos José Correa Barros is a human rights defender and the executive director of the organization Espacio Público. According to the request for precautionary measures, he was arrested by state authorities on January 7, 2025, while returning home by car. His current whereabouts are unknown.

On January 8, 2025, his relatives and members of Espacio Público searched for him at various police stations but did not obtain any information. That same day, Espacio Público's legal team attempted to initiate habeas corpus proceedings at the Palace of Justice. They encountered significant obstacles, and the petition was accepted only after a five-hour wait. The requesting party also reported that later that night, Venezuela's Minister of Internal Relations, Justice, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, accused Correa of involvement in a "conspiracy plan" and verbally attacked NGOs operating in the country, which he described as "money launderers." The IACHR' has not yet received a response from the Venezuelan State despite the deadline having expired.

Given these circumstances, the IACHR deems Carlos José Correa Barros's situation to be critical, as no information has been received on his whereabouts, conditions of detention, and state of health since his arrest on January 7, 2025. Despite this lack of information, high-ranking state authorities have allegedly made stigmatizing statements targeting him. The authorities have also created obstacles to processing the habeas corpus petition. Consequently, in accordance with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR requested that Venezuela:

1. take all necessary measures to protect Carlos José Correa Barros's rights to life and personal integrity. Specifically, the State must provide official confirmation of whether he is in state custody and provide details regarding his detention or outline the efforts being made to determine his whereabouts or fate;
2. take the necessary measures to ensure that the beneficiary can continue his human rights work without fear of threats, stigmatization, slander, harassment, or violence; and
3. take the necessary measures to guarantee that his conditions of detention are compatible with international human rights standards, including:
   1. allowing him regular contact with family members and legal representatives;
   2. providing official information on his legal status and any criminal proceedings in which he may be involved, including the reasons for his continued detention and whether he has appeared before a court for a review of his case; and
   3. conducting an immediate medical evaluation and ensuring he receives any healthcare he might need;
4. consult with Carlos José Correa Barros and his representatives on any measures to be taken; and
5. report on any actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to these precautionary measures to prevent further such occurrences.

The granting of these precautionary measures and their implementation by the State does not constitute a decision on any petitions that may be filed with the inter-American system concerning violations of rights protected by the applicable instruments.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up 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. 010/25

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