IACHR adopts precautionary measures in favour of Kalua Salazar and her family in Nicaragua

June 14, 2021

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Washington, D.C.- On June 10, 2021, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) adopted Resolution 47/21, in which it granted precautionary measures in favour of Kalua Salazar and her family, after considering that they find themselves in a situation of serious and urgent risk of irreparable damage to their rights in Nicaragua.

According to the request, the beneficiary, who is press director for the independent media outlet La Costeñísima, is at risk because she is being the victim of threats, harassment and surveillance by State authorities and private individuals due to her work as a journalist.

The Commission requested observations from the State and received information regarding the protection and guarantee of all persons' human rights. However, this information made no mention of the specific situation of Ms. Salazar, thus it was not possible to analyze whether the applicants' allegations regarding the existence of a serious risk against her has been disproved.

In the resolution, the Commission took into account the repressive context regarding independent journalistic activity in Nicaragua, as well as the heightened situation of risk faced by Kalua Salazar as a woman journalist. Upon analyzing the submissions of fact and law submitted by the parties, the Commission considers that the information presented shows, prima facie, that Ms. Salazar is in a serious and urgent situation, since her rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm. Consequently, the IACHR requests that Nicaragua: a) adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Kalua Salazar and her nuclear family. To this end, the State must both ensure that state actors 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; b) adopt the necessary measures so that Kalua Salazar can carry out her activities as an independent journalist without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation, and harassment in the performance of her work. The latter should include measures that will allow her to properly exercise her right to freedom of expression; c) consult and agree upon the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and d) 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 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.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate derives 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. 147/21