A protection mechanism was established in 2024 through a Ministerial Accord. It contains some positive provisions to protect defenders but lacks capabilities and autonomy.
Before this, an “Analysis Unit of attacks against HRDs” was created in 2008 through a Ministerial Accord; in April 2018, the government abruptly and unjustifiedly changed the Unit’s working methods, alienating civil society. In November of that year, the Ministry suspended all of the Units’ activities until the mandate expired in January 2020. A ‘renewed’ unit was created under on October 23, 2020, but was eliminated 5 days later with no explanation and no replacement.
In 2014, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the State to adopt an HRD protection law and mechanism