Order of the
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
of September 2, 2010
Provisional Measures
Regarding Honduras
Matter of Gladys Lanza Ochoa
HAVING SEEN:
1.
The brief of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter, the “InterAmerican Commission” or the “Commission”) of August 30, 2010, and its appendices, whereby
it submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter, the “Inter-American
Court”, the “Court” or the “Tribunal”) a request for provisional measures, pursuant to the terms
of articles 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter, the “American
Convention” or the “Convention”) and 27 of the Court’s Rules of Procedure (hereinafter, the
“Rules of Procedure”), in order for Honduras (hereinafter, the “State” or “Honduras”) to protect
the life and physical integrity of Mrs. Gladys Lanza Ochoa.
2.
The alleged facts on which the request for provisional measures filed by the Commission
is based, to wit:
a)
The overthrow of the democratically elected Honduran President and the break-down of the
democratic and constitutional order in Honduras of June 28, 2009, which led the Commission, before the
submission of hundreds of complaints about serious human rights violations, to request information on
the situation of risk of numerous people and, considering the extent of the complaints, to order
precautionary measures 196/08 of June 28, 2009, which have been expanded on different occasions;
b)
On July 20, 2009, the Commission received information in relation to threats and acts of
harassment committed to the detriment of various people, including Mrs. Lanza Ochoa;
c)
The representatives of the beneficiary stated that on June 26, 2009, two days before the coup
d’état, Mrs. Lanza received messages in which she was told to “take care after June 28." Afterwards, she
was visited by a non-identified woman who told her that Billy Joya—who would have been the leader of
Battalion 3-16 and who was charged before the Honduran courts of justice with grave human rights
violation allegedly committed during the 1980s- was “a great person” and that Mrs. Lanza was always
“telling bad things about him.” Said non-identified woman told her to be careful since Billy Joya lived
near her house. It was also mentioned that the press would have reported the existence of threats
against Mrs. Lanza issued by an "advisor minister" of Mr. Micheletti, making reference to the same Mr.
Billy Joya;
d)
On July 24, 2009, the Commission expanded the precautionary measures to protect, among
other people, Mrs. Gladys Lanza Ochoa – spokeswoman and activist in demonstrations and activities