ORDER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS∗ OF DECEMBER 2, 2003 PROVISIONAL MEASURES IN THE MATTER OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA THE MARTA COLOMINA AND LILIANA VELÁSQUEZ CASE HAVING SEEN: 1. The Order of the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the President”) issued on July 30, 2003, in which he decided: 1. To call upon the State to adopt forthwith all necessary measures to protect the life, safety and freedom of expression of the journalists, Marta Colomina y Liliana Velásquez. 2. To call upon the State to allow the beneficiaries to take part in the planning and implementation of the measures of protection and, in general, to maintain them informed about progress in the measures ordered. 3. To call upon the State to investigate the reported facts that gave rise to these measures in order to identify those responsible and punish them. 4. To call upon the State to report to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the measures it has adopted in compliance with this Order by August 14, 2003, at the latest. 5. To call upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to present the comments that it deems pertinent to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights within one week of receiving notification of the State’s report. 6. To call upon the State, following its first communication (supra fourth operative paragraph), to continue reporting to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, every two months, on the provisional measures adopted, and upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to present its comments on the said reports within six weeks of receiving them. 2. The Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Court”) issued on September 8, 2003, in which it decided: 1. To ratify the Order of the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of July 30, 2003, in its entirety. 2. To call on the State to adopt and maintain all necessary measures to protect the life, safety and the freedom of expression of the journalists, Marta Colomina y Liliana Velásquez. 3. To call upon the State to allow the beneficiaries to take part in the planning and implementation of the measures of protection and, in general, to maintain them informed about progress in the measures ordered. ∗ Judge Hernán Salgado Pesantes advised the Court that, owing to circumstances beyond his control, he would be unable to take part in the deliberation and signature of this Order.