IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor of activist José Luis Subero Reyes in Venezuela

January 13, 2026

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 2/2026 on January 9, 2026, to grant precautionary measures in favor of José Luis Subero Reyes in Venezuela, in the belief that he faces a serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to his rights to life, personal integrity, and health.

According to the request for these precautionary measures, the beneficiary is a human resources analyst at Andrés Gutiérrez Solís Hospital, as well as a human rights activist. His whereabouts, judicial status, and health condition have been unknown since November 25, 2025. The State failed to provide information to the IACHR on this issue.

After assessing the legal and factual allegations in this case, the IACHR found that the fact that the whereabouts of Subero Reyes are unknown and the mere passage of time increase the probability that he will suffer harm to his rights. Further, the IACHR found that, despite the searches and other action taken by his family, Venezuelan authorities have failed to provide information concerning his whereabouts, whether he is in State custody, his conditions of detention, or his health condition.

The IACHR did not receive from the State any information about the measures that might have been taken to mitigate or otherwise address the risks faced by the beneficiary. Consequently, in keeping with Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR asked the State of Venezuela to take the following action:

1. Adopt any measures necessary to protect the rights to life, personal integrity, and health of Subero Reyes; in particular, the State should take the following action:
   1. 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
   2. Should the beneficiary be in State custody, say whether he has been charged with any crimes and whether he has been taken before a court of competent jurisdiction so his arrest might be reviewed, and immediately specify the court in charge of this criminal case (or state why he has not been taken before court)
   3. Enable contact between the beneficiary and his family, trusted legal counsel, and any other representatives, and grant his legal counsel full access to the relevant criminal case file, should such a file exist
   4. Immediately conduct a comprehensive medical examination of his current health condition and ensure that he has timely access to the specialist medical care and/or treatment he needs, as well as notifying his families and representatives of the results of this examination and care
2. Take any measures necessary to enable the beneficiary to do his work as a human rights defender without being subjected to threats, harassment, intimidation, or any other acts of violence
3. 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 of Venezuela 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 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. 009/26

No. 009/26

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