4 Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela, an inspection of the entire area was undertaken, leading to the discovery of contraband. The female wing was not the target of the search. Furthermore, during the aforementioned capture, daily food and water rations were delivered to the inmate population; medical attention was provided to the wounded; and the dead were removed by the Corps of Scientific, Penal, and Criminal Investigations (“CICPC”). By means of dissuasion, dialogue, and persuasion, it was not necessary to utilize weapons or violence to enter into the facility; e) following these events, working sessions were held together with spokespersons from the inmate community, State authorities, and a group of family members. After these meetings, various activities were conducted including receipt, verification, and updating of records; recovery of damaged areas; trash collection; psychosocial evaluations; and legal assessments of inmates to determine their legal situation and the status of their fulfillment of the requirements for the provision of measures alternative to compliance with the sentence; f) the external custody and the control of the entrance to the Araguan Correctional Facility are under the auspices of approximately 60 officers of the Bolivarian National Guard. These officers monitor the security perimeter by way of 14 checkpoints and have established methods to control the facility’s entrance and exit. The Ombudsman is also present during visiting days in order to monitor all matters related to the entrance and exit of the inmates’ family members; g) after the aforementioned capture of the facility, the health services area was strengthened so as to provide better care for inmates. Additionally, at present a total of 749 inmates take part in educational activities at this correctional facility; and h) “historically, the media have [sought to] discredit the State’s function in correctional matters” and “have engaged in value-laden coverage of negative events that are associated with an already complex correctional system.” The recent happenings in the Araguan Correctional Facility were no exception. 8. The observations presented by the Inter-American Commission in its November 12, 2010 brief in which it stated that “the State of Venezuela did not report on immediate measures to preserve life or human treatment [... but rather] on general measures in the median and long term that are not directly related to the dangers present in this correctional facility.” The Commission also observed that the State “did not dispute [the fact that] in the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 violent deaths occurred in the facility,” where the State has special protection obligations in its capacity as guarantor. Regarding the riot that began on September 27, 2010, a situation that could have been controlled by the State, the Commission assessed the information provided by the State but stressed that “the State’s intervention has failed to remedy the structural problems of violence that have led to loss of life and violations to the right of humane treatment of dozens of inmates in recent years at Tocorón prison[,] and [these violations] continue to occur.” According to the Commission, the proffered information regarding the manner in which the media have covered the situation in Venezuelan prisons “is not at all relevant to an analysis of the elements of extreme gravity, urgency, and the need to avoid irreparable harm.” In conclusion, the Commission requested that the Court ratify the urgent measures ordered by the President of the Tribunal.

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