3 CONSIDERING: 1. That Article 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights establishes that the Court may, in cases “of extreme gravity and urgency, and when necessary to avoid irreparable damage to persons”, take the provisional measures it considers pertinent in matters not yet submitted before it. 2. That in the terms of Article 25(4) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court: [if] the Court is not sitting, the President, in consultation with the Permanent Commission, and if possible with the other judges, shall call upon the government concerned to adopt such urgent measures as may be necessary to ensure the effectiveness of any provisional measures subsequently ordered by the Court at its next session. 3. That according to the Order of the Court of November 11, 1997, Colombia is obligated to adopt all of the measures necessary to ensure the physical and moral integrity of the persons vinculated with ASFADDES, to periodically report on these measures and also to adopt measures to ensure that all of the offices of the Association can continue functioning without danger to the life or personal integrity of those that work there. 4. That, Ms. María Eugenia Cárdenas, as a member of ASFADDES, and in light of the threats and harassment that she has been subject, as well as for the events that have occurred against her family, could be in a situation of extreme gravity and urgency which therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures in order to avoid irreparable damage. NOW, THEREFORE: THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 25(4) of its Rules of Procedure, DECIDES: 1. To call upon the State of Colombia to expand the Urgent Measures adopted in this case in order to ensure the right to live and personal integrity of Ms. María Eugenia Cárdenas and her family. 2. To call upon the State of Colombia to investigate and punish those responsible for the acts denounced by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in its brief of December 17, 1997. 3. To submit the present order to the consideration of the Court during its next Regular Session for the pertinent effects. 4. To request that the State of Colombia include in the bi-monthly reports it will submit, in accordance with the Order of November 11, 1997, the measures taken in virtue of the present order, so as to put them to the consideration of the Court.