nature, since they protect human rights inasmuch as they are intended to avoid irreparable damage to persons.21 24. Therefore, it is clear that one of the fundamental purposes of provisional measures is to "ensure the practical effectiveness of rights so that they are not merely rhetorical." 22 Thus, during the functioning of the Inter-American Court, the Court has ordered provisional measures in 91 matters and cases brought before it, providing protection for more than 25,000 people. 25. However, it should be noted that, procedurally, the fact that the Court has ruled on the merits and ordered the appropriate reparation measures does not automatically lead to the lifting of provisional measures. Quite the contrary. Even in the monitoring compliance with judgments stage, the Court, on numerous occasions, has decided to maintain the measures, and even extend them due to the threat of irreparable damage and situations of "extreme gravity and urgency."23 Additionally, in several cases where a judgment on merits Matter of Capital El Rodeo I and El Rodeo II Judicial Confinement. Provisional Measures regarding El Salvador. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 8, 2008, Considering Clause 7 and 8. 22 Cf. Burbano Herrera, Clara, Provisional Measures in the Case Law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights , Antwerp, Intersentia, 2010, p. 1. 23 Cf. Case of Blake. Provisional Measures regarding Guatemala. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of August 18, 2000, operative paragraph one; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of June 2, 2011, operative paragraph one; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of June 6, 2003, operative paragraph two, and Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 17, 2004, operative paragraph one. Case of Carpio Nicolle. Provisional Measures regarding Guatemala. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 6, 2009, operative paragraph one. Case of Loayza Tamayo. Provisional Measures regarding Peru. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 3, 2001, operative paragraph two. Matter of James et al. Provisional Measures regarding Trinidad and Tobago: Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of September 3, 2002, operative paragraph two; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of December 2, 2003, operative paragraph three, and Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 28, 2005, operative paragraph two. Case of Bámaca Velásquez. Provisional Measures regarding Guatemala. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 21, 2003, operative paragraph two; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 20, 2003, Considering Clause sixteen and operative paragraph two, Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of March 11, 2005, operative paragraph one, and Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of January 27, 2009, operative paragraph four. Case of Raxcacó Reyes et al.. Provisional Measures regarding Guatemala. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 4, 2006, operative paragraph two; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 2, 2007, operative paragraph two; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 21, 2007, operative paragraph two, and Order of the Court of Human Rights of May 9, 2008, operative paragraph six. Case of 19 Merchants. Provisional Measures regarding Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of April 28, 2006, operative paragraphs one and second, Order of the Court Human Rights July 4, 2006, operative paragraphs one and second, Order of the Court Human Rights May 12, 2007, operative paragraph two and three; Order of the Inter-American Court Human Rights of July 8, 2009, operative paragraph four and five, and Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of August 26, 2010, operative paragraphs one and two; Case of the Gómez Paquiyauri Brothers. Provisional Measures regarding Peru; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of September 22, 2006, operative paragraph one; Resolution of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of May 3, 2008, operative paragraph two. Case of the Plan de Sánchez Massacre. Provisional Measures regarding Guatemala. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 25, 2006, operative paragraph one; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 26, 2007, operative paragraph three. Case of Mapiripán Massacre. Provisional Measures regarding Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of May 3, 2008, operative paragraph one; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of September 2, 2010, operative paragraph one. Caso of Gutiérrez Soler. Provisional Measures regarding Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 27, 2007, operative paragraph one; Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 9, 2009, operative paragraph one. Case of García Prieto et al.. Provisional Measures regarding El Salvador. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of February 3, 2010, operative paragraph two. Case of Fernández Ortega et el.. Provisional Measures regarding Mexico. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 23, 2010. 8