IACHR
Press Release
IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of NOTIMATV Journalists in Nicaragua
June 23, 2020
Washington, D.C. - On June 17, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 27/2020 (link in Spanish), granting precautionary protection measures in favor of journalists working at NOTIMATV, in Nicaragua, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights.
The petition alleges that the journalists in question have been subjected to threats, intimidation, surveillance, and acts of violence as they go about their work in Nicaragua. The IACHR expressed its regret over not having received observations from the state on this matter, despite the fact that these were requested, in accordance with article 25.5 of its Rules of Procedure.
Having deemed that the regulatory requirements had been met, the IACHR requested that the state of Nicaragua a) take the necessary measures to guarantee the right to life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries named in the resolution. To that end, the state must guarantee that its agents respect the beneficiaries’ rights in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law, while also protecting their rights in relation to third-party risk; b) take the necessary measures to enable the beneficiaries to go about their work as journalists without being subjected to acts of intimidation, threats, or other acts of violence in the course of this. This includes adopting measures to protect the right to freedom of expression of the members of the media outlet in question, such as by refraining from hindering them from going about their work as journalists and from denying them access to the tools and materials they need to do this; c) agree on any measures to be adopted in consultation with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and d) report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleges events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure so as to prevent them from being repeated.
The granting of these precautionary measures and their adoption by the state do not entail a prejudgment on possible violations of the 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. 145/20