IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of Ulises Ramón Martínez in Venezuela

August 11, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 53/2025 on August 5, 2025, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Ulises Ramón Martínez in Venezuela, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights to life and personal integrity.

The proposed beneficiary is a businessperson and a coordinator of the political party Vente Venezuela in the municipality of Simón Bolívar, in the state of Anzoátegui. He was involved in the 2024 election in that role. On June 9, 2025, Martínez was allegedly arrested at his home by officers of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), without a court warrant and without providing any details as to where he was being taken. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown, and his loved ones have not been able to make contact with him.

The request for these precautionary measures noted that his family had visited several facilities in their search for the beneficiary, and that officers in all those facilities had denied having him in their custody. His family has also filed complaints and writs before the authorities of competent jurisdiction to demand information about his whereabouts and legal status, and they have demanded that he be allowed to communicate with his family and to appoint legal counsel of his choice. The State failed to provide information to the IACHR on this issue.

After assessing the legal and factual allegations, the IACHR considers that the beneficiary is at risk, given that his whereabouts and fate have remained unknown since he was deprived of liberty by officers of the State. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Venezuela to take the following action:

(a) Adopt any measures necessary to protect the beneficiary's rights to life and personal integrity, particularly the following:

(i) Report on whether the beneficiary is in State custody (and, if so, provide the reasons for and other details of his arrest) and on any measures taken to establish his fate or whereabouts

(ii) Should the beneficiary have been charged with any crimes, say whether he has been taken before a court of competent jurisdiction so his arrest might be reviewed (or state why he has not been taken before court)

(iii) State what court, if any, is handling the criminal case against the beneficiary or provide the reasons why the beneficiary has so far not been released

(iv) Enable contact between the beneficiary and his family and trusted legal counsel and grant his legal counsel full access to the relevant criminal case file, should such a file exist

(v) Immediately conduct a comprehensive medical examination of his current health condition and ensure that he has access to the medical care he needs

(b) Report on any actions adopted to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to the adoption of these precautionary measures, in order 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.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 159/25

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