The request for protection refers to the poor conditions of the Venezuelan penitentiary system and the loss of numerous lives as a result of inter-prison violence, as well as the damage to the physical, mental and moral integrity of those deprived of freedom, those who may enter the system in the future, and those who work or visit the detention centers.

The request was extended to protect members of the non-governmental organization Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones) who faced threats, harassment and intimidation as a result of their work nationally and internationally on this issue.

During the process, the Inter-American Court received several different requests on several detention centers in Venezuela.