IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Jonatan Alberto Palacios Castillo in Venezuela

September 20, 2023

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 51/2023 on September 17, 2023, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Jonatan Alberto Palacios Castillo in Venezuela, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights.

According to the party who requested these precautionary measures, the beneficiary is a Colombian citizen who is being held in pretrial detention at the Occidente II penitentiary facility without getting the timely medical care he requires. The Commission noted that various court decisions ordering that Palacios Castillo be taken to other facilities for medical examination have not been implemented, so he still lacks the medical care he needs.

The IACHR noted the lack of a State response, which prevented access to further details about any measures that might have been taken in this matter.

After assessing the legal and factual allegations made by the party who requested these precautionary measures, the IACHR found that Jonatan Alberto Palacios Castillo was at risk. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Venezuela to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to protect Jonatan Alberto Palacios Castillo's rights to life, personal integrity, and health (in particular, ensuring that he has access to timely medical treatment, including any transfers that might be required for relevant medical examinations and monitoring)
2. Come to an agreement with the beneficiary and his representatives concerning any measures that need to be taken
3. Report on any actions adopted to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures, in order to prevent such events from happening again in the future

The fact that these precautionary measures have been granted and their adoption by the State do not entail a prejudgment on a potential petition that may be filed before the inter-American system to allege violations of rights protected by the American Convention on Human Rights 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 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. 219/23

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