IACHR Issues Precautionary Measures for Mary Yuli González, Municipal Councilwoman in Venezuela

June 29, 2023

Washington, D.C.—On June 24, 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 37/2023 (link in Spanish), through which it granted precautionary protection measures in favor of Mary Yuli González Pérez, in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, whom it deems to be at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to her human rights.

The petition indicates that the beneficiary is being subjected to threats, harassment, and acts of violence by groups known as "colectivos" as a result of her work as a councilwoman and as part of the political opposition. She was reportedly assaulted in April 2023 while going about her political activities, but the police officers present at the time did not intervene. On May 10, 2023, she was attacked again, this time by a crowd of people, and was forced to hide inside a church that the crowd then threatened to burn down with her inside if she did not leave, which led the police to rescue her. On May 12, 2023, she was threatened again, this time inside a bakery when a person there identified her.

After analyzing the allegations of fact and law put forward in the petition, the IACHR deemed that, according to the applicable prima facie standard, Mary Yuli González Pérez is in a serious, urgent predicament as her rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm.

Consequently, the IACHR requested that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Mary Yuli González Pérez;
2. adopt the protection measures necessary to enable Mary Yuli González Pérez to carry out her social and political activities, particularly those relating to her position as Substitute Councilwoman for the Municipal Council of the Capital District, without being subjected to threats, intimidation, harassment, or acts of violence;
3. agree on any measures to be implemented with the beneficiary and her representatives; and
4. report on the actions it implements to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this resolution so as to prevent them from being repeated.

The fact that this precautionary measure has been granted and its adoption by the State does not entail a prejudgment on any petition that may eventually be filed before the inter-American system to allege that the rights protected by all applicable instruments have been violated.

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. 141/23

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