The facts of the case relate to the ilegal and arbitrary detention, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of the human rights defender Lysias Fleury, who formed part of the organization “Comisión Episcopal Nacional de Justicia y Paz”, perpetrated by agents of the National Police. The case also addresses the lack of due diligence in the investigation of the events and the denial of justice in detriment to the victim and his family.

The IA Court placed the events in the context of political polarization, public insecurity and institutional deficiencies in Haiti, in which the National Police were implicated in cases of abuse of power and other criminal activities, carrying out a constant practice of illegal detentions and mistreatment.

The IA Court applied standards regarding illegal and arbitrary detention and considered the conditions of his detention to be torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading acts. Additionally, the Court stressed the state obligation referring to the protection and recognition of the role fulfilled by human rights defenders, as guarantees against impunity and its relationship to freedom of association. Finally, the IA Court elaborated standards on the right to movement and residence as a consequence of the

de facto

limitation which affected Lysias Fleury, as a result of the impunity in which the events remained.