The IACHR grants precautionary measures to Glenda Carolina Ayala Mejía and her family in Honduras

December 28, 2021

Washington, D.C. - On December 28, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 107/2021 , whereby it granted precautionary measures to Glenda Carolina Ayala Mejía and her family, upon considering that she is in a serious and urgent situation presenting a risk of irreparable harm to her rights as a result of her work as President Commissioner of the National Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (MNP - CONAPREV) in Honduras.

The applicants reported that Glenda Carolina Ayala Mejía, Presiding Commissioner of the MNP-CONAPREV, has been subjected to threats against her and obstacles to her work, between the years 2017 and 2021, in Honduras. Similarly, it was informed that such events have been reported to the state authorities on repeated occasions. Recently, an alleged plan to assassinate Ms. Glenda Ayala was reported. The State informed that on February 5 and October 29, 2021, the Protection Mechanism assessed that the legal requirements to grant protection measures to Ms. Glenda Ayala were not met. Additionally, the State reported that there are police protection measures in force for Ms. Glenda Ayala and her children.

The IACHR assessed the information received in light of the relevance of the work carried out by the MNP-CONAPREV for the Inter-American System, as well as the visibility of Ms. Glenda Ayala as president of that institution. When analyzing the facts, the IACHR considered that the reported threatening events were related to the work of Ms. Glenda Ayala, particularly the recent information regarding the alleged plan to assassinate her. In addition, the IACHR observed the different complaints lodged over the years with the authorities without substantive progress and the lack of appropriate measures for the specific situation of Ms. Ayala.

Consequently, in the terms of Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR requested that the State of Honduras:

1. adopt the necessary measures, with a gender perspective, to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Glenda Carolina Ayala Mejía and her family;
2. adopt the necessary measures so that the proposed beneficiary can carry out her activities as Presiding Commissioner of the National Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, without being subjected to threats, harassment, and other acts of violence in the exercise of her duties;
3. consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiary and her representatives; and
4. report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that gave rise to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent such events from reoccurring.

The decision to grant this precautionary measure and its adoption by the State does not constitute a prejudgment of any petition filed with the inter-American system and alleging violations of the rights protected in the American Convention and other applicable instruments.

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 the observance and defense of 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. 351/21

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