IACHR Issues Precautionary Measures in Favor of Honduran Human Rights Defender

Bethânia da Silva 

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued the Resolution 84/2021, on October 12,2021, which granted precautionary measures to Ligia del Carmen Ramos, a doctor and human rights defender in Honduras. Since 2015, Ligia has reportedly been target of threats and harassment and in 2021 she was aware of an alleged plan to assassinate her. However, in the past the beneficiary did not agree with the measures suggested for her by the Protection Mechanism. In August 2021, a new request for protection was received. The IACHR considered that she is in serious and urgent situation presenting a risk of irreparable harm to her rights, since she is currently a candidate for elective office, also recognized for denouncing alleged acts of corruption related to the health sector and, more recently, to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. For issuing the measure, the IACHR considered the link between the reported threatening acts and the work of the beneficiary, the continuance and persistency of those acts over the years, the different complaints filed without any progress and the lack of measures implemented in favor of Ms. Ramos. 

Sources and further reading:

OAS. The IACHR issues precautionary measures in favor of Ligia del Carmen Ramos, in Honduras. October 15, 2021.

https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2021/277.asp

Source: https://www.elheraldo.hn/pais/1399477-466/ligia-ramos-ministra-salud-twitter-pelea