The request to protect the life and integrity of Leonel Rivero and his family concerns threats and harassment (as well as lack of investigation of these incidents) faced by him due to his work as a human rights defender.

Initially the measures were granted as part of another set of measures to protect members of the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Center for Human Rights (Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez). In August 2008, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights decided to treat these separately.