Pérez Fonseca

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 21.521757

Longitude: -77.781167

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Reprisal information

During the reporting period, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention reported allegations of reprisals and/or intimidation against Mr. Pérez Fonseca after the Government was notified of the opinion of the Working Group of 26 October 2023 that found his detention arbitrary (A/HRC/WGAD/2023/51). The Government has not released Mr. Perez, and his situation in detention has reportedly worsened (A/HRC/57/44 para 30). In October and November 2023, the authorities allegedly suspended his right to telephone communications for several weeks. In January 2024, Mr. Pérez Fonseca reportedly found a note on his bed containing a threat to kill him, and the same threat was reiterated verbally by other inmates who are members of the penitentiary establishment’s Disciplinary Council. On 15 January 2024, following a health emergency, Mr. Pérez Fonseca was denied medical assistance until 9 February 2024. Reportedly, Mr. Pérez Fonseca is persistently harassed by an official of the Ministry of the Interior, including through summonses to appear before authorities and interrogations under duress, without legal counsel present. Allegedly, the authorities have indicated that Mr. Pérez Fonseca will not be granted any penitentiary benefits, such as early release.

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Government response content

On 1 August 2025, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report, reaffirming its support for civil society’s engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms and highlighting its vibrant civil society composed of a wide range of social movements and local networks. The Government noted with concern the inclusion in the report of allegations of intimidation and reprisals, mainly from developing countries, which it considered unverified, incomplete or misrepresented. It further observed that the continued disregard of responses from countries of the Global South is alarming.
With regard to Mr. Pérez Fonseca, the Government regretted the inclusion in the report of what it considered to be false allegations, It stated that these allegations had first been made by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in a manner it viewed as arbitrary. The Government further noted that the information reflected in the report was, in its assessment, unrelated to his alleged cooperation with the United Nations. It affirmed that Mr. Pérez Fonseca had not been subjected to any form of reprisals, including in connection with his cooperation with the UN, nor had he been detained, intimidated or harassed for the legitimate exercise of his human rights. The Government also rejected what it described as the instrumentalization of United Nations human rights mechanisms and requested additional time for Member States to submit their responses.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No

#EndReprisals