IACHR Decides to Expand Precautionary Measures in Favor of Irán Almaguer Labrada in Cuba

August 31, 2021

Washington, D.C. — On August 28, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 68/2021, through which it decided to expand the precautionary measures in favor of Irán Almaguer Labrada, a member of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) in Cuba, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights to life and personal integrity. On January 7, 2021, the IACHR had granted precautionary measures in favor of the beneficiary's brother, Yandier García Labrada, a member of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), who is being deprived of his freedom in Cuba.

When analyzing the predicament of Irán Almaguer Labrada, the IACHR noted that the State had not responded to the requests for information that were issued while the precautionary measures in favor of the beneficiary's brother, Yandier García Labrada, were in place. It also noted with particular concern that Irán Almaguer Labrada was subjected to threats and intimidation and was allegedly held in incommunicado detention by State agents. It did not receive a reply to its requests for information from the State on this matter.

Consequently, the IACHR requested that the State of Cuba:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity. To that end, the state must guarantee that its agents respect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity and those that relate to third-party risk, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law;
2. take the necessary measures to enable the beneficiary to go about his work without being subjected to acts of intimidation, threats, or other acts of violence in the course of doing so;
3. agree on any measures to be adopted with the beneficiary and his representatives; and
4. report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure so as to prevent them from being repeated.

The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted and its adoption by the state does not entail a prejudgment on any petition that may eventually be filed before the inter-American system to allege that the rights protected by the American Convention and other applicable instruments have been violated.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 229/21

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