- The organization demanded that the Venezuelan authorities allow a peaceful and democratic transition in the country
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a press conference on Tuesday, November 12, on the human rights situation in Venezuela following the presidential elections on July 28.
Roberta Clarke, president of the IACHR, expressed concern about a “notable” increase in state repression, arbitrary arrests and political persecution in the country after the elections. Clarke indicated that these practices have a serious impact on human rights and democracy.
The spokesperson specified that the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not published the minutes certifying the victory of Nicolás Maduro, which is why she assured that the situation generates uncertainty about the transparency of the electoral process.
The IACHR also expressed concern about the situation of 69 adolescents who are deprived of liberty after the elections and who have been accused of “excessive” and “unfounded” terrorism crimes.
Commissioner José Luis Caballero explained that among the group of teenagers there is a person with autism. He stated that young people have been taken to regular prisons for adults and have not been guaranteed distinctive treatment that ensures their human rights. He mentioned that, in addition, they have been judged as “terrorists”, without the presence of family members and without due legal assistance.
The commission urged the Venezuelan government to recognize the seriousness of the situation and immediately release all people who have been imprisoned for political reasons.
Prison situation
Edgar Stuardo Ralón, IACHR rapporteur on the rights of people deprived of liberty, pointed out that, according to his reports and monitoring work, the prison population in Venezuela faces high overcrowding conditions. Ralón expressed special concern about the situation of women deprived of liberty, pointing out that the overcrowding rate exceeds 832%.
The agency’s rapporteurs reported that they have monitored the situation and have been able to corroborate that the women are subject to “deplorable conditions”, “humiliation”, “mistreatment” and do not have access to “basic conditions.”
“The conditions we have are deplorable. They suffer humiliation and ill-treatment in detention centers. It is a situation that is worth making visible and that we will continue to monitor,” said Ralón.
Special Rapporteur Pedro Vaca reported that, in Venezuela, at least 30 journalists have had their right to freedom of expression violated. Of this number, 11 are deprived of liberty. Vaca pointed out that they also do not enjoy legal guarantees and do not have regular access to lawyers.
The spokesperson also highlighted the exodus of journalists and self-censorship in the coverage of issues of public interest. Vaca pointed out that there are no conditions to carry out an on-site visit due to the human rights crisis in the country.
1,963 political prisoners reported in Venezuela
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Foro Penal reported that there are a total of 1,963 political prisoners for November 8 in Venezuela. Of this number, there are men who were arrested in the context of the post-election protests since July 29.
The NGO published the updated numbers in its X account and warned that, of this figure, 1,801 are civilians and 162 are military. The image of the report also indicates that 1,810 people are still awaiting sentencing.
The criminal forum indicated that the number of citizens arrested in Venezuela for political reasons from 2014 to date is 17,952. Likewise, according to the organization’s figures, more than 9,000 people are still arbitrarily subject to measures restricting their freedom.
The organization denounced on August 23 that Venezuela had the highest number of political prisoners in the history of Venezuela, “at least in the 21st century.” with a total of 1,674 political prisoners.
Among those detained are political leaders, press workers, soldiers, civilians, adolescents, lawyers and human rights activists or defenders.
The organization’s lawyers have denounced that the majority of these political prisoners are accused of the crime of terrorism, a measure that has also been attributed to the adolescents, who, according to Foro Penal, are between 14 and 17 years old. .
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Military personnel. The report also indicated that the number of political prisoners has been steadily increasing, reflecting the ongoing repression against dissent in Venezuela.
The IACHR reiterated the need for the Venezuelan government to take immediate action to address these violations and uphold the rights of all individuals, particularly those imprisoned for political reasons. The Commission emphasized that respect for human rights is vital for restoring trust and stability in the country, especially in light of recent electoral controversies and the treatment of detainees.
In addition to the urgent call for the release of political prisoners, the IACHR highlighted the broader implications of these violations in terms of national and international perception of Venezuela’s commitment to human rights. The situation calls for an independent and thorough investigation into the electoral process, as well as the treatment of individuals detained in connection with their political beliefs or actions.
As the situation evolves, continued monitoring and advocacy from international organizations and human rights activists will be crucial in pushing for reforms and ensuring accountability within the Venezuelan government.
