IACHR requests from Inter-American Court an extension of provisional measures in favor of six individuals who are deprived of liberty in Nicaragua

February 20, 2025

Washington, DC – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) asked the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on February 19, 2025, to extend provisional measures in the case Juan Sebastián Chamorro et al., to include six further individuals who are deprived of liberty in Nicaragua and face an extremely serious and urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their rights.

The IACHR decided to request an extension of provisional measures in favor of Eddie Moisés González Valdivia, Steadman Fagot Muller, Eveling Carolina Matus Hernández, Lesbia del Socorro Gutiérrez Poveda, Carmen María Sáenz Martínez, and Víctor Boitano Coleman, all of them beneficiaries of precautionary measures granted by the IACHR. Concerning González Valdivia, the IACHR finds that his conditions of detention leave him in extreme danger. In all other cases, no official information has been provided about beneficiaries' whereabouts, conditions of detention, or health condition following their arrest or transfer to a penitentiary facility.

Since its precautionary measures went into force, the IACHR has repeatedly tried to obtain information from the State of Nicaragua, but it has received no response that might indicate that adequate, effective measures have been implemented to mitigate the risks. No information has been provided concerning measures to seek an agreement or to investigate the risks.

Consequently, in keeping with Article 63.2 of the American Convention and Article 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the IACHR asked the Inter-American Court to demand that the State of Nicaragua take the following action:

1. Immediately adopt all necessary measures to protect the lives, personal integrity, health, and personal liberty of (1) Eddie Moisés González Valdivia; (2) Steadman Fagot Muller; (3) Eveling Carolina Matus Hernández; (4) Lesbia del Socorro Gutiérrez Poveda; (5) Carmen María Sáenz Martínez; and (6) Víctor Boitano Coleman
2. Formally reporting on the whereabouts or place of detention of Steadman Fagot Muller; Eveling Carolina Matus Hernández; Lesbia del Socorro Gutiérrez Poveda; Carmen María Sáenz Martínez; and Víctor Boitano Coleman
3. Immediately release these individuals who are deprived of liberty in Nicaragua, given the serious, inhumane conditions of detention they are being subjected to

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights grants provisional measures in extremely serious and urgent cases, to prevent irreparable harm to individuals. Provisional measures are mandatory for States, and the decisions they hold require that States adopt specific actions to protect the rights and/or lives of the individuals who are at risk.

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. 040/25

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