Precautionary Measures

Resolution No. 67/18
PM 807-18 - Yaku Pérez Guartambel, Ecuador

On August 27, 2018, the IACHR decided to request the adoption of precautionary measures in favor of Yaku Pérez Guartambel, who identifies as a member of the Cañari indigenous group in Ecuador. The request alleges that the beneficiary is at risk due to his work as a defender of the rights of indigenous people and the environment, as his stance against the mining industry has been discredited by sectors that identify as being "pro-mining," who have allegedly threatened him. After analyzing the allegations of fact and law, the IACHR considers that the information that has been put forward proves, in principle, that Yaku Pérez Guartambel is at grave risk. Consequently, in accordance with Article 25 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure, the Commission requested that Ecuador take the necessary steps toward guaranteeing the rights to life and personal integrity of the beneficiary; that it take all culturally appropriate steps necessary to guarantee that Yaku Pérez Guartambel can continue to go about his work as a human rights defender without suffering threats, harassment, or acts of violence in the course of doing so; that it determine the measures to be implemented in consultation with the beneficiary and his representatives; and that it report on the actions it takes to investigate the allegations that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent them from being repeated.

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Resolution No. 25/18
PM 309-18, 310-18 - Javier Ortega Reyes, Paúl Rivas Bravo and Efraín Segarra Abril, Colombia and Ecuador

On April 12, 2018, the IACHR moved to request the adoption of precautionary measures in favor of Javier Ortega Reyes, Paúl Rivas Bravo and Efraín Segarra Abril, in Colombia and Ecuador. The request for precautionary measures alleges that the proposed beneficiaries, members of a journalistic team, were kidnapped by a splinter group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, by their Spanish acronym) on March 26, 2018, in the border area between the two countries, and notes that the country where beneficiaries are currently being held remains uncertain. After assessing the legal and factual allegations, the IACHR considers that the information that has been submitted shows, in principle, that beneficiaries face a situation of grave and urgent risk. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of the IACHR’s Rules of Procedure, the Commission asked Colombia and Ecuador to take any measures necessary to preserve beneficiaries’ lives and personal integrity; to adopt any measures necessary for them to be able to do their journalistic work in the enjoyment of their freedom of expression, without being subjected to intimidation, threats and other acts of violence; and to report on any actions taken to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of this precautionary measure.

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