in several cases where a judgment on merits has already been ordered and the respective reparations measures awarded, the Court has ordered provisional measures during the first stage of monitoring compliance.24 All in accordance with the precautionary and protective nature of provisional measures because the American Convention provides only "factual information"25 for the Inter-American Court to order such measures. In other words, there is "a situation of extreme gravity and urgency" and "when it is necessary to avoid irreparable damage to persons" while the case is before it. 26. Since it is the responsibility of the Inter-American Court to monitor compliance with its judgments, it is clear that the "consideration" of the case does not cease with the issuance of the ruling on the merits of the case and when the corresponding reparations are awarded. The jurisdictional power of the Court, like any judicial body, "is exercised by ruling and making rulings be exercised."26 This is because the Court "can [n]ot ignore the fate of its decisions, which are always mandatory for States and exempt from review by a higher court. The inter-American 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 InterAmerican Court of Human Rights of February 2, 2007, operative paragraph two; Order of the InterAmerican 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 InterAmerican Court of Human Rights of November 27, 2007, operative paragraph one; Order of the InterAmerican 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. 24 Cf. Case of Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni . Provisional Measures regarding Nicaragua. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of September 6, 2002, operative paragraph one; Case of 19 Merchants. Provisional Measures regarding Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of September 3, 2004, operative paragraph second, and Case of the Rochela Masacre. Provisional Measures regarding El Salvador. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 19, 2009, operative paragraph one. 25 Cf. García Ramírez, Sergio, The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Mexico, Porrua, 2007, p. 68. 26 Gimeno Sendra, José Vicente, Fundamentos del Derecho Procesal, Madrid, Civitas, 1981, p. 31. 9