IACHR adopts precautionary measures in favour of Camille Occius and his family in Haiti

September 15, 2021

Washington, D.C.- On September, 4, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) adopted Resolution 74/21, in which it granted precautionary measures in favour of Camille Occius and his nuclear family, after considering that they find themselves in a situation of serious and urgent risk of irreparable damage to their rights in Haiti.

According to the request, the beneficiary finds himself in a situation of risk given acts of violence being committed against him due to his work as a human rights defender in Haiti. In this regard, the Commission regrets not having received the State's observations, despite the fact that these were requested in accordance with Article 25.5 of its Rules of Procedure.

Having analyzed the submissions of fact and law presented by the applicants, the IACHR considers that the information submitted demonstrates prima facie that there is a serious and urgent risk of irreparable harm to Camille Occius' rights to life and personal integrity in accordance with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure. Consequently, the Commission requests that State of Haiti:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Camille Occius and his family. To this end, the State must ensure that its agents respect the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries, as well as protect their rights in relation to acts of risk that are attributable to third parties, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law;
2. adopt the necessary measures to ensure that Camille Occius can carry out his activities as a human rights defender without being subjected to acts of violence and harassment in the course of his work;
3. agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and,
4. report on the actions taken in order to investigate the alleged facts that led to the adoption of this resolution with the aim of preventing their reoccurrence.

The granting of this precautionary measure and its adoption by the State does not constitute the prejudgment of any petition that may eventually be presented before the inter-American system 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 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. 240/21

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