IACHR Demands Enhanced Security Measures for National Attorney Patricia Benavidez

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) asked this Wednesday for the Peruvian state to grant protection measures in favor of national prosecutor Patricia Benavidez due to the risks she faces in the midst of the political crisis that the country has been experiencing since December last year.

“The current context that the country is going through, and in particular the activities it is doing, is notorious, visible and of great public interest to various sectors of society. Likewise, Liz Patricia Benavidez Vargas and her Core family were considered to be at risk due to the current context of the institutional crisis and because of the investigations he is conducting as head of the Attorney General’s Office,” the statement said.

IACHR recognized that the state provides protection People’s Prosecutor. However, given the current situation, it is expected that this will not be enough.

“Having analyzed the parties’ allegations of facts and laws, the Commission requested Peru: a) to take the necessary measures to ensure the rights to life and security of persons designated as beneficiaries; b) to take measures to be implemented with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and c) a report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged facts that gave rise to this decision, and thus prevent its recurrence,” reads another part of the document.

The IACHR clarified that the imposition of a measure of restraint and its adoption by a state is not a preliminary decision regarding possible recourse to the inter-American system, which alleges a violation of the rights protected by the American Convention and other applicable instruments.

Condemn post-protest violence

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned on January 18 the violence caused by both security forces and protesters during anti-government protests in Peru that have killed fifty people over the past month.

IACHR Vice President and Rapporteur for Peru, Edgar Stuardo Ralon, presented to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) his report on his visit to the country from 11 to 13 January.

“We condemn the violence by the security forces, which are under investigation, as well as the violence that has affected a number of state assets,” the commissioner said.

The crisis began on December 7 after the failed coup d’état of the then President Pedro Castillowho was arrested after trying to dissolve the Congress, form an emergency government and open the founding process.