IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of nine foreign nationals deprived of their freedom in Venezuela

November 19, 2025

Washington, DC—On November 17, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 79/2025, granting precautionary measures to protect nine foreign nationals deprived of their freedom in Venezuela, after determining that they face a situation of extreme gravity and urgency as their rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm.

The requests alleged that the nine foreign nationals were deprived of their freedom in 2025 and face serious risks due to their current conditions of detention. These conditions reportedly include a lack of information about their legal status, incommunicado detention, and significant obstacles to the appointment of private legal counsel or to accessing consular assistance. More broadly, there is little to no official information available about their current situation or health. It was also reported that following their detention, their whereabouts were initially unknown. At present, only the whereabouts of Olmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba allegedly remain unknown. The State has not provided the IACHR with any information on the matter.

After reviewing the factual and legal arguments provided by the requesting parties, the IACHR determined that Najam Islam Butt (Pakistani), Zsuzsanna Bossanyi (Hungarian), Willem Frederik de Rhoodes (Dutch), Angelique Brigitte Corneille (Dutch), Miguel Moreno Dapena (Spanish), and Walter López Ogaldez, Willy Delano Bowman Webster, and Hiubert Johonie Martínez Martínez (Hondurans) are being detained without effective contact with their families or lawyers of choice. They also lack access to domestic remedies to seek protection from the alleged conditions in which they are being held.

The IACHR also determined that the whereabouts of Panamanian national Olmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba remain unknown. As time passes, the risk of harm to his rights increases, particularly given that his family and contacts are unable to pursue domestic actions to locate him.

The IACHR has not received any information from the State that would allow it to assess whether steps are being taken to address or mitigate the risk to which the beneficiaries are exposed. In response to these circumstances, in accordance with article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR has requested that Venezuela:

1. take the necessary measures to protect the beneficiaries’ rights to life and personal integrity;
2. confirm whether Olmedo Javier Núñez Peñalba is in State custody. If so, indicate where he is being held and provide information on the grounds for his arrest and the circumstances in which he is being held. If not, report on the steps being taken to determine his whereabouts or fate;
3. take appropriate steps to ensure that the beneficiaries’ conditions of detention comply with international standards, including by:
   1. clarifying whether criminal charges have been brought against the beneficiaries and whether they have been brought before a competent judge to review their detention. If so, identify the court handling their cases, or, if they have not appeared before a court, explain the reasons for this;
   2. enabling communication with their families, representatives, trusted legal counsel of choice, and the consular authorities of their countries of nationality, including access to their case files where applicable;
   3. conducting health evaluations and providing any medical care that may be required;
   4. ensuring that the beneficiaries have access to interpretation or translation services, as needed, so that they can understand their situation and exercise their rights;
   5. facilitating communication with their countries of nationality;
4. strengthen protective actions for persons held in detention centers who have already been granted inter-American protection measures;
5. agree on the protective measures to be implemented in consultation with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and
6. report on the measures taken to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to these precautionary measures, to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The granting of these precautionary measures and their implementation by the State of Venezuela do not constitute a decision on any petitions that may eventually be submitted to the inter-American system concerning alleged violations of the rights protected under 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. 235/25

10:30 AM