ORDER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF FEBRUARY 5, 1997 PROVISIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED BY THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MATTER OF COLOMBIA GIRALDO CARDONA CASE HAVING SEEN: 1. The brief of October 18, 1996, in which the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission" or "the Inter-American Commission") submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter "the Court" or "the Inter-American Court") a request for provisional measures on of behalf Sister Noemy Palencia, Islena Rey Rodríguez, Gonzalo Zárate, Mariela de Giarldo and her two young daughters, Sara and Natalia Giraldo, in connection with case No. 11.690, before the Commission against the Government of the Republic of Colombia (hereinafter “the State”, “the Government” or “Colombia”), pursuant to Articles 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Convention" or "the American Convention") and 24 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter "the Rules of Procedure"). The request of the Commission was justified in that the above-mentioned persons are members of the Meta Civic Committee of Human Rights, and have been victims of threats, harassment and persecution, including the murder of their President, Doctor Josué Giraldo Cardona, despite being protected by a request for precautionary measures by the Commission to the Government. 2. The Order of the President of the Court (hereinafter “the President”) of October 28, 1996, in which he decided: 1. To call upon the State of Colombia to adopt, forthwith, such measures as may be necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of Sister Noemy Palencia, Islena Rey Rodríguez, Gonzalo Zárate, Mariela de Giraldo and her two young daughters Sara and Natalia Giraldo, and to avoid irreparable damage to them, in strict compliance with the obligation to respect and guarantee the human rights it has contracted to in accordance with Article 1(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights. 2. To call upon the Government of Colombia to adopt, forthwith, such measures as may be necessary to ensure that the aforementioned persons can continue living in their habitual residence and to return to their homes, providing them the assurance that they will not be persecuted or threatened by agents of the Government or by civilians. 3. To call upon the Government of Colombia to investigate the denounced events against the members of the Meta Civic Committee of Human Rights, in order to punish those responsible for these acts, particularly for the murder of Josué Giraldo Cardona. 4. To call upon the Government of Colombia to report to the Court within 15 days, and later every 30 days, as of notification of this Order, on the urgent measures it has taken. To also call upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to submit its observation on said information to the Court within 15 days as of receipt of the Government reports.