IACHR grants precautionary measures to political secretary Albany Milagros Colmenares in Venezuela

August 27, 2025

Washington, DC—On August 24, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 61/2025, granting precautionary measures for the protection of Albany Milagros Colmenares Mendoza in Venezuela after determining that she is in grave and urgent danger, given that her rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm.

According to the request, the beneficiary is the political secretary of the Vente Venezuela organization in the state of Carabobo. She was reportedly detained by State agents on July 23, 2025, and has since remained in isolation and incommunicado. No official information has been provided about her place of detention or the conditions in which she is being held, nor has the State provided the IACHR with details on her situation.

After analyzing the factual and legal arguments presented by the requesting party, the IACHR noted that there is an imminent risk of the beneficiary experiencing harm in the current context in Venezuela, given her ongoing detention, her lack of contact with her family, the absence of official information on her health and detention conditions, and the impossibility of seeking protective measures through domestic channels.

Furthermore, the IACHR has not received information from the State that demonstrates measures being taken to address or mitigate the risk faced by the beneficiary. In response to these circumstances, in accordance with article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR has requested that Venezuela:

1. take the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Albany Milagros Colmenares Mendoza;
2. take adequate measures to guarantee that her conditions of detention are compatible with the applicable international standards, in particular by:
   1. facilitating contact with her family, legal representatives, and legal counsel of choice, granting full access to her case file;
   2. providing official information on her place of detention, her legal status, and any criminal proceedings in which she may be involved, including whether she has been brought before a court for a review of her detention;
3. implement the necessary measures to ensure that the beneficiary can go about her political activities without being subjected to threats, harassment, intimidation, or acts of violence;
4. agree on the measures to be taken with the beneficiary and her representatives; and
5. report on the measures taken to investigate the alleged events that gave rise to this resolution with the aim of preventing their recurrence.

The granting of these precautionary measures and their implementation by the State do not constitute a decision on any petitions that may eventually be filed before the inter-American system concerning possible violations of the rights protected under the applicable instruments.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 171/25

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