1. Colombia has been a State Party to the American Convention since July 31, 1973, and it accepted the contentious jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court, in keeping with Article 62 of the Convention, on June 21, 1985. 2. Article 63(2) of the American Convention establishes that, “[i]n cases of extreme gravity and urgency, and when necessary to avoid irreparable damage to persons, the Court shall adopt such provisional measures as it deems pertinent in matters it has under consideration. With respect to a case not yet submitted to the Court, it may act at the request of the Commission”. 3. In this regard, Article 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court1 (hereinafter, the Rules of Procedure”) establishes, in its relevant part, that: 1. At any stage of the proceedings involving cases of extreme gravity and urgency, and when necessary to avoid irreparable damage to persons, the Court may, on its own motion, order such provisional measures as it deems pertinent, pursuant to Article 63(2) of the Convention. 2. With respect to a matter not yet submitted to the Court, it may act at the request of the Commission. […] 4. According to the provision established in Article 63(2) of the Convention, provisional measures ordered by this Tribunal are binding on the State pursuant to a basic principle of international law, as supported by international case law, under which States are required to comply with international treaty obligations in good faith (pacta sunt servanda).2 5. According to international human rights law, provisional measures are not only precautionary in the sense that they preserve a legal situation, but are also fundamentally protective, as they protect human rights insofar as they seek to prevent irreparable damage to people. Provisional measures are adopted provided the basic requirements of extreme gravity and urgency and the prevention of irreparable damage to persons are met. In this sense, provisional measures become a real jurisdictional 3 guarantee of a preventive nature. 6. According to the Orders of the Court of July 5, 2006; September 22, 2006; January 31, 2008; and November 25, 2011, the State was required, inter alia, to adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and integrity of the following people: (i) Mery Naranjo Jimenez and her immediate family, namely, Juan David Naranjo Jimenez, Alejandro Naranjo Jimenez, Sandra Janeth Naranjo Jiménez, Alba Mery Naranjo Jiménez, Erika Johann Gómez, Heidi Tatiana Naranjo Gómez, María Camila Naranjo Jiménez, Aura 1 Rules of Procedure of the Court approved during its LXXXV Period of Ordinary Sessions, held from November 16 to 28, 2009. 2 Cf. Case of James et al. Provisional Measures regarding Trinidad and Tobago. Order of the Court of July 14, 1998, Considering 6, and Matter of María Lourdes Afiuni. Provisional Measures regarding Venezuela. Order of the President of the Court of December 10, 2010, Considering 4, and Matter of José Luis Galdámez Álvarez et al. Provisional Measures regarding Honduras. Order of the President of the Court of December 22, 2010, Considering 3. 3 Cf. Case of the Newspaper “La Nación.” Provisional Measures regarding Costa Rica. Order of the Court of September 7, 2001, Considering 4; Matter of Gladys Lanza Ochoa, supra footnote 2, Considering 6, and Matter of Centro Penitenciario de Aragua "Cárcel de Tocorón,” supra footnote ¡Error! Marcador no definido. 4