Precautionary Measures
Resolution No. 83/23( EXTENSION, FOLLOW-UP, AND PARTIAL LIFT )
PM 416-13 - Tolupan indigenous members of the Movimiento Amplio por la Justicia y la Dignidad (Broad Movement for Justice and Dignity in Honduras) , Honduras
On December 27, 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) decided to issue a Follow-up, Extension and Partial Lift Resolution with respect to Precautionary Measures 416-13 in favor of Tolupan indigenous members of the Broad Movement for Justice and Dignity (MADJ) in Honduras. In the resolution, the IACHR decided to keep in force the precautionary measures, and to extend them in favor of 61 identified members of the Broad Movement for Justice and Dignity (MADJ) that inhabit the San Francisco Locomapa Tribe, due to their situation of serious and urgent risk as a result of their activities in defense of the environment, land and territory. Similarly, the IACHR decided to lift the precautionary measures in favor of Santos Matute and José Salomón Matute, taking into account that the beneficiaries were killed in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Consequently, in accordance with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission decided as follows: a. Continue to follow up on these precautionary measures in accordance with the terms established in Article 25 of the IACHR Rules of Procedure; b. Lift the precautionary measures granted in favor of Santos Matute and José Salomón Matute; and c. Extend the precautionary measures granted in favor of 61 members of the MADJ that inhabit the San Francisco Locomapa Tribe, requesting their protection under the terms of Resolution 12/2013. d. Implement these precautionary measures considering the applicable ethnic and gender approach, as appropriate.
Resolution No. 55/23
PM 137-23 - Identified members of the Comité Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos de Tocoa, and members of the law firm Justicia para los Pueblos, Honduras
On October 5, 2023, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of 30 identified members of the Comité Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos de Tocoa (Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa) and the law firm Justicia para los Pueblos (Justice for People), after considering that they are in a serious and urgent situation of risk of irreparable harm to their rights in Honduras. According to the request, the beneficiaries have been subjected to death threats, surveillance, harassment and other acts of violence in recent years, particularly in the context of their work as environmental rights defenders and as legal representatives of the Committee in relation to extractive and mining projects. It is alleged that certain beneficiaries do not have any protection measures in place, and that those who do have protection details in place are not being adequately implemented, allowing the situation of risk to continue and persist. The Commission valued the actions implemented by the State; however, it observed that the situation of vulnerability continues. In accordance with Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure, the Commission requests that Honduras:
- adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the identified members of the Comité Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos de Tocoa and members of the law firm Justicia para los Pueblos;
- adopt the necessary protection measures to ensure that the beneficiaries can continue carrying out their activities in defense of human rights without being subjected to threats, intimidation, harassment, and acts of violence;
- consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representation; and
- report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that gave rise to the adoption of this resolution, so as to prevent such events from reoccurring.
Resolution No. 47/23
PM 404-23 - Members of Honduran Alternative for Community and Environmental Vindication (ARCAH), Honduras
On August 20, 2023, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of 11 members of Honduran Alternative for Community and Environmental Vindication (ARCAH), after considering that they are in a serious and urgent situation that places them at risk of irreparable harm to their rights in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleged that ARCAH members carry out activities in the defense of environmental rights, making complaints about industrial and extractive projects and are allegedly being subject to surveillance, monitoring, intimidation, threats, and other events that place them at risk in the exercise of their work. It is also pointed out that, despite having protection measures in place, these are not being properly implemented, which has allowed for the ongoing and permanent risk to the detriment of the members of ARCAH. Such situations have purportedly remained over time and are said to have increased during 2023. Pursuant to Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure, the Commission requests that Honduras:
- adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the eleven members of ARCAH;
- adopt the necessary measures so that the beneficiaries can continue to carry out their activities as environmental rights defenders, without being subjected to threats, harassment and other acts of violence in the exercise of their work;
- consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and
- report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent them from reoccurring.
Resolution No. 18/23
PM 937-22 - Pedro de Jesús Pinto Cabrera and his family unit, Honduras
On April 13, 2023, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of Pedro de Jesús Pinto Cabrera and his family, after considering that they are in a serious and urgent situation presenting a risk of irreparable harm to their rights in Honduras. The request for precautionary measures alleges that the proposed beneficiary is a public official of the Forest Conservation Institute and carries out environmental rights defense activities in the municipality of La Labor, in the department of Ocotepeque, in the Guisayote Reserve. Due to his work, the proposed beneficiary is reportedly subject to acts of violence, threats, and intimidation since November 2022. In its analysis, the Commission assessed the protection measures taken by the State. However, the Commission considered that the threatening events are said to be a form of retaliation against the proposed beneficiary's action in the defense of the environment, as well as the serious and ongoing risk, despite the protection measures. Accordingly, under the terms of Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure, the Commission requests that the State of Honduras:
- adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Pedro de Jesús Pinto Cabrera and his family unit;
- adopt the necessary measures so that the beneficiary can carry out his activities without being subject to threats, harassment, and violence in the exercise of his duties as a Reserve Ranger of the Directorate of the Guisayote Reserve Institute (Guarda Reserva de la Dirección del Instituto de Reserva Guisayot
- and President of the Water Board (Junta de Agu
- of the La Mesa neighborhood, in La Labor, Department of Ocotepeque;
- consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and
- 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 incidents from reoccurring.
Resolution No. 11/23
PM 41-22 - Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas and her family unit, Honduras
On March 6, 2023, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas and her family unit, after considering that they are in a serious and urgent situation posing a risk of irreparable harm to their rights in Honduras. In the request for precautionary measures, it is alleged that Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas, who is a human rights defender and executive director of the Association for Participatory Citizenship (ACI-PARTICIPA), is being subjected to monitoring, surveillance, threats, and other threatening events in the exercise of her duties. In the request, it is also pointed out that despite having current protection measures in place, these are not being adequately implemented nor have corresponding corrective actions been taken to the date, which has allowed the ongoing and permanent threatening situation to the detriment of Ms. Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas and her family members. Therefore, the State of Honduras is requested to:
- adopt the necessary measures, with a gender approach, to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Ms. Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas and the members of her family unit;
- adopt the necessary protective measures, with the corresponding gender approach, in order for Ms. Hedme Fátima Castro Vargas to continue carrying out her activities in defense of human rights without being subject to threats, intimidation, harassment, and acts of violence;
- consult and agree upon the measures to be implemented with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and
- report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that gave rise to the adoption of this resolution, so as to prevent such events from reoccurring.