100
278.
Thus, for example: (a) in the matter of Centro Penitenciario de Aragua
"Cárcel de Tocorón," the Court was told that between 2008 and the first quarter of 2010,
84 inmates were killed in acts of prison violence; and that between September 27 and 29,
2010, there was a riot in which 16 inmates died, firearms were discharged, and eight
grenades were detonated; 312 (b) in the matter of Capital El Rodeo I & El Rodeo II Judicial
Confinement Center it was established that between 2006 and February 1, 2008, there
were 139 deaths in various incidents of violence; 313 (c) in the matter of the Penitentiary
Center of the Central Occidental Region (Uribana Prison), the Court was informed that
between January 2006 and January 2007 there were 80 violent deaths in total, most of
them caused by stabbing weapons and firearms; 314 (d) in the matter of the Mendoza
Prisons, it was brought to the attention of the Inter‐American Court that between March
and October 2004, 11 inmates and 1 prison official lost their lives in violent circumstances,
mostly as a result of fights involving sharp instruments used as weapons; 315 (e) and in the
matter of Urso Branco Prison, the Court found that between January and June 2002 at least
56 inmates were brutally murdered in acts of prison violence in that corrections facility.
According to the information presented to the Court, most of these deaths occurred amid
inaction on the part of the authorities and their negligence in taking steps to control
situations of violence. 316
279.
By the same token, in several of its decisions granting precautionary
measures, the IACHR has requested States to take steps to protect the lives of persons
deprived of liberty who were considered to be at risk based on clear evidence and strong
reasons to believe that their lives and physical integrity might be in danger of attack.
280.
In its press releases, the IACHR has repeatedly stated its position 317 with
respect to serious acts of prison violence that have taken place in the region in recent years
in Brazil, 318 El Salvador, 319 Guatemala, 320 Honduras, 321 Mexico, 322 and Venezuela. 323 The
312
I/A Court H.R., Provisional Measures, Matter of Centro Penitenciario de Aragua "Cárcel de Tocorón"
regarding Venezuela, Order of the President of the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights of November 1, 2010,
Having seen, para. 2.
313
I/A Court H.R., Provisional Measures, Matter of Capital El Rodeo I & El Rodeo II Judicial Confinement
Center regarding Venezuela, Order of the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights of February 8, 2008, Having seen,
paras. 2 and 9.
314
I/A Court H.R., Provisional Measures, Matter of the Penitentiary Center of the Central Occidental
Region (Uribana Prison) regarding Venezuela, Order of the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights of February 2,
2007, Having seen, para. 2.
315
I/A Court H.R., Provisional Measures, Matter of the Mendoza Prisons regarding Argentina, Order of
the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights of November 22, 2004, Having seen, paras. 2 and 11.
316
I/A Court H.R., Provisional Measures, Matter of Urso Branco Prison regarding Brazil, Order of the
Inter‐American Court of Human Rights of June 18, 2002, Having seen, paras. 1‐2.
317
The Inter‐American Commission's press releases, organized by year, are available from the IACHR
Press
and
Outreach
Office,
and
can
be
accessed
at:
http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/press_releases.asp.
318
With respect to Brazil, the acts of violence that occurred in the state of São Paulo between May 12
and 15, 2006, in which, apart from a serious public security situation involving confrontations in the streets of that
state, there were more than 70 riots at different detention centers throughout São Paulo. During these events, at
least 128 people were killed, including members of the security forces, civilians, and inmates. The riot on
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