Provisional Measures in the Case Law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Provisonal measures are an instrument used by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Their purpose is to prevent irreparable harm to the rights and freedoms ensured under the American Convention on Human Rights of people who are in a situation of extreme gravity and urgency. The measures, ordered ex officio or at the request of a party, result in protection offered by the respondent states to alleged victims. This does not in any way result in prejudging the merits of the matter before the…