- The organizations published a joint statement warning that repression in the country could increase | Photo: EFE
A total of 29 human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called on Monday, September 9, for the urgent renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which would otherwise expire at the end of September, in a context of “intensification of post-electoral repression” in that country.
“Discontinuing the mission’s work at such a crucial time would have negative implications for the protection of victims, survivors and the wider population, and could further embolden the Venezuelan government to continue its brutal repression,” they said in a joint statement.
The mission, chaired by Portuguese jurist Marta Valiñas and completed by Chilean Francisco Cox and Argentine Patricia Tappatá, was created in 2019 by order of the UN Human Rights Council with the aim of investigating extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment committed since 2014.
Already renewed twice (2020 and 2022), the mission promoted in the Council by several Latin American countries and Canada has issued various reports in which it has accused the Venezuelan authorities, including Nicolás Maduro, of possible crimes against humanity.
“Their work must continue,” the signatory organizations said, at a time of violent repression of protests against the lack of transparency in the July 28 elections, in which more than 20 deaths and 2,400 arrests have been reported.
This repression is an indication that “the need to renew the mandate of the experts is more urgent than ever,” said the organizations, including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
He National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Maduro the winner of the July 28 elections without presenting, as required by law, the disaggregated voting records, which were published by the opposition to support its allegations of fraud and its claim that its candidate, Edmundo González, exiled in Spain Since September 8, he was the winner by a wide margin.
The Maduro administration claims that the minutes published on the Internet are “false” and has not yet presented any that would prove that Maduro won.
Renewal of mandate
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On September 19, a new report by the UN mission in Venezuela will be presented during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, which began on Monday, September 9, and at the end of the five weeks of debates, in the second week of October, the renewal of the mandate should be voted on.
For this renewal, it will need to obtain the majority vote of the Council made up of 47 UN member states, in which Latin American representation is currently made up of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Paraguay.
Other countries currently serving on the Council include the United States, China, India, France, Germany and Japan.
Among the NGOs that signed the joint statement are, in addition to AI and HRW, AlertaVenezuela, the Center for Justice and Peace, Espacio Público, the International Commission of Jurists, Laboratorio de Paz, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict and the World Organization against Torture, among others.
With information from EFE
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#NGOs #call #renewal #mandate #FactFinding #Mission #Venezuela
2024-09-09 21:51:31
Amnesty International Venezuela 2023
Urgent Call for Renewal of Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela Amid Escalating Human Rights Abuses
As the situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, 29 human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have joined forces to demand the urgent renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela. The mission, set to expire at the end of September, is crucial in investigating and documenting human rights abuses in the country.
The call comes in the wake of intensified post-electoral repression following the July 28 elections, which have seen more than 20 deaths and 2,400 arrests reported. The NGOs warned that discontinuing the mission’s work at this critical juncture would have devastating implications for the protection of victims, survivors, and the wider population, emboldening the Venezuelan government to continue its brutal repression [[1]].
The mission, established in 2019 by the UN Human Rights Council, has investigated extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment committed since 2014. Its work has been instrumental in holding the Venezuelan authorities, including Nicolás Maduro, accountable for possible crimes against humanity [[2]].
Human Rights Watch, a prominent human rights organization, has accused the Venezuelan authorities of systematically violating the rights of demonstrators, bystanders, opposition leaders, and political activists. Reports of arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, and torture have become a grim reality in Venezuela [[3]].
The UN human rights office has reinforced these concerns, describing a pervasive “climate of fear” in Venezuela. The office has reiterated its deep concerns over the continuing “climate of fear,” highlighting the urgent need for continued international scrutiny and action [[4]].
As the Venezuelan government’s brutal repression of dissent intensifies, the role of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission becomes more crucial than ever. The mission’s work must continue to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable and that victims receive justice and reparations.
The 29 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch and others, have urged the UN Human Rights Council to renew the mission’s mandate, without delay. The international community must stand united in defense of human rights and democratic principles, ensuring that the Venezuelan government is held accountable for its actions.
References:
Human rights Watch Venezuela
Venezuela’s Human Rights Crisis: NGOs Call for Renewal of Independent International Fact-Finding Mission
In a joint statement, 29 human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) urged the urgent renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which is set to expire at the end of September [[3]]. The NGOs, including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), warned that discontinuing the mission’s work would have negative implications for the protection of victims, survivors, and the wider population, and could further embolden the Venezuelan government to continue its brutal repression.
The mission, created in 2019 by the UN Human Rights Council, has been investigating extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment committed since 2014. The mission has accused Venezuelan authorities, including Nicolás Maduro, of possible crimes against humanity [[2]]. The NGOs emphasized that the mission’s
