IACHR Grants Precautionary Measures in Favor of Peruvian Attorney General Liz Patricia Benavides Vargas

February 8, 2023

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Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 5/23 on February 6, 2023, to grant precautionary protection measures in favor of Liz Patricia Benavides Vargas and her family in Peru, in the belief that their rights to life and personal integrity face a serious, urgent risk.

When assessing the request for these precautionary measures, the Commission noted the current context in Peru, and particularly the fact that the beneficiary's work as the country's Attorney General is public, visible, and of major public interest for various sectors within society. The IACHR further considered that Liz Patricia Benavides Vargas and her family are at risk in the current institutional crisis in the country, given her investigations as head of the Peruvian Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Commission acknowledged that the State is providing material protection to the beneficiary and has even increased her security detail beyond what is required by domestic regulations. The IACHR commends the State on these actions. However, given the current situation, these measures are regarded as insufficient, and requests for further measures have been declined.

Consequently, after assessing the legal and factual allegations made by the parties, the Commission asked Peru to take the following action: (a) adopt any measures necessary to protect beneficiaries' rights to life and personal integrity; (b) come to an agreement with beneficiaries and their representatives regarding any measures that need to be taken; and (c) report on any steps taken to investigate the events that gave rise to the adoption of this resolution, to prevent such events from happening again in the future.

The fact that these precautionary measures have been granted and their adoption by the State do not entail a prejudgment on a potential petition that may be filed before the inter-American system to allege violations of 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. 018/23

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