IACHR
Press Release
IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of José Javier Tarazona Sánchez and His Family in Venezuela
July 1, 2020
Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 30/2020 on June 18, 2020, to grant precautionary protection measures in favor of José Javier Tarazona Sánchez and his family in Venezuela, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable damage to his rights. According to the request for these precautionary measures, Mr. Tarazona Sánchez is at risk due to his work as head of FundaRedes, an organization that has denounced the presence of irregular armed individuals in Venezuela. The request alleges that, as a consequence of these reports, Mr. Tarazona Sánchez is being subjected to threats and intimidation in the current Venezuelan context.
The Commission believes that all essential criteria have been met for the adoption of these precautionary measures. It therefore asks the State of Venezuela to take the following action: a) adopt all measures necessary to protect the lives and personal integrity of José Javier Tarazona Sánchez and specific members of his family (in particular, the State must ensure that the beneficiary’s rights are respected—in compliance with the standards of international human rights law—both by officers of the State and with regard to dangerous acts that might be perpetrated by third parties); b) come to an agreement with the beneficiary and his representatives regarding any measures that need to be adopted; and c) report on any actions taken to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of this resolution, to prevent such events from happening again in the future.
The fact that precautionary measures have been granted and their adoption by the State do not entail a prejudgment concerning a potential violation of rights protected by the 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. 157/20