IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of the legal coordinator of Vente Venezuela, Perkins Rocha Contreras, in Venezuela

September 3, 2024

Washington, D.C. - On September 2, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights adopted Resolution 61/2024, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Perkins Rocha Contreras after considering that he is at serious and urgent risk of irreparable harm to his rights in Venezuela.

The applicants indicated that Perkins Rocha Contreras is the Legal Coordinator of the Vente Venezuela party and representative of the Comando Venezuela before the National Electoral Council. He is a lawyer and personal advisor to María Corina Machado, National Coordinator of the Vente Venezuela party. Perkins Rocha was detained on August 27, 2024, by hooded and armed officials who, after a physical struggle, took him into custody without an arrest warrant. From that moment on, his location has been unknown. According to public information, the proposed beneficiary's wife received a message that Mr. Rocha is being held at the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), where they had previously denied his presence. His family learned that the proposed beneficiary has been charged with various crimes, such as terrorism and treason. However, neither the family nor his trusted attorney have been able to see him or confirm his legal situation.

Upon analyzing the submissions of fact and law furnished by the applicants, the Commission considers that the proposed beneficiary is in a serious and urgent situation, given that his current location is unknown to date. Therefore, pursuant to the provisions of Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission requests that Venezuela:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Perkins Rocha Contreras. In particular, among others, inform whether the beneficiary is in State custody at the SEBIN headquarters and the circumstances of his detention; specify whether the beneficiary was brought before a competent court to review his detention after having been charged with crimes; or, otherwise, specify the reasons why he has not been released to date; and guarantee the beneficiary's contact with his family and trusted attorneys, and provide them with the minimum official information on his legal situation.
2. implement the necessary measures to ensure that the beneficiary can carry out his activities as a member of an opposition party without facing threats, harassment, or acts of violence; and
3. report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent such events from reoccurring.

The granting of this precautionary measure and its adoption by the State of Venezuela do not constitute prejudgment of any petition eventually filed before the inter-American system regarding a possible violation of the rights protected in the applicable instruments.

A principal and autonomous body of the OAS, the Commission derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 204/24

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