IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of Edwin Edgardo Lainez Ordoñez in Honduras

February 5, 2025

Washington, DC – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 12/2025 on February 2, 2025, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Edwin Edgardo Lainez Ordoñez in Honduras, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights.

The party who requested these precautionary measures said that Lainez had been arrested on November 13, 2024, in Tegucigalpa and that his family had since not been provided with clear or precise information concerning his whereabouts or any concrete measures taken by the authorities to address his situation.

The State of Honduras reported on the action it had taken to establish Lainez' whereabouts. The Police Department against Maras and Other Gangs and against Organized Crime (DIPAMPCO) said that it had received a complaint filed by Lainez' father, reporting him missing and deprived of liberty. The Police Investigations Department (DPI) reported that it had conducted various procedures, including searches, to gather data and identify relevant security cameras, among others. On December 11, 2024, the public prosecutor's office specializing in fatal crimes requested in a preliminary report that the authorities tap communications from several phone numbers linked to this investigation. The State stressed its commitment to further taking action to comply with its international human rights obligations in this case.

After assessing the legal and factual allegations put forward by the parties, the IACHR considers that the beneficiary faces serious, urgent risks, since his whereabouts remain unknown. The IACHR notes that the State has taken action to investigate the allegations and has stated its commitment to finding Lainez. However, the IACHR also noted that no information had been provided concerning Lainez' place and conditions of detention. Further, despite the time that has gone by and despite the complaints that have been filed, the investigations conducted by the authorities of competent jurisdiction have so far failed to deliver concrete results. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Honduras to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to establish Lainez' fate and whereabouts, in order to protect his rights to life and personal integrity
2. 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
3. Keep Lainez' family adequately informed of any measures taken and any progress made in this investigation

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 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. 034/25

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