Caracas, Sep 9 (EFE).- The UN Human Rights Council “must renew” the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which is investigating possible human rights violations in the Caribbean country, they said on Monday 29 national and international organizations.
Through a statement, the NGOs expressed that The mission “can play a key role in accountability and maintaining international scrutiny amid widespread repression” following the presidential elections on July 28, even though this group does not operate on the ground, but rather from outside the country.
In the days following the election, nationwide protests broke out against the official result, which gave victory to President Nicolás Maduro and which the opposition describes as “fraudulent,” a claim that the anti-Chavez movement supports with the “83.5% of the electoral records” that it claims to have collected from witnesses and table members, and which it later published on a website.
According to the government, which insists on Maduro’s victory, the records presented by the opposition are “false.”
The organisations denounced “brutal repression” against “those who exercised their right to political participation and protest” after the elections, when the Prosecutor’s Office recorded 25 deaths and more than 2,400 arrests in protests, which – the NGOs said – makes the renewal of the mission’s mandate “more urgent than ever.”
They also recalled that the observation group was created by the Human Rights Council in 2019 with the aim of investigating “extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment committed since 2014,” including sexual violence.
In this regard, they stated that the mission “was one of the first international mechanisms to affirm that the Venezuelan authorities have committed serious human rights violations as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population that could constitute crimes against humanity.”
“In its rigorous reports, it identified mid- and high-ranking authorities, including the head of state, as potentially responsible for human rights violations,” they said.
The government, for its part, has described the mission as “false and shameful” and claims that it “issues biased judgments.”
On September 19, the group will present its fifth report to the UN Human Rights Council. To extend its mandate, which has been done twice, a resolution from the body is required.
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2024-09-10 22:11:16
What are the key reasons behind the call for the renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela?
Table of Contents
Renewal of UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela: A Step Towards Accountability and Human Rights Protection
The United Nations Human Rights Council is being urged to renew the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which has been investigating human rights violations in the country since 2019. This call to action comes from a coalition of 29 national and international organizations, who argue that the mission’s renewal is crucial in the face of ongoing state-led repression and widespread human rights abuses in Venezuela.
The need for the mission’s renewal is all the more pressing in light of the recent presidential elections, which have been marred by allegations of fraud and rigged results. The opposition has claimed that the election was fraudulent, backing their claims with evidence from 83.5% of electoral records. However, the government has dismissed these allegations as false. The controversy has sparked nationwide protests, which have been met with brutal repression by the authorities, resulting in 25 deaths and over 2,400 arrests [[3]].
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela was established in 2019 to investigate extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture, and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment committed since 2014, including sexual violence [[5]]. The mission’s reports have been instrumental in highlighting the scale and severity of human rights violations in Venezuela, and have identified mid- and high-ranking authorities as responsible for these abuses.
The organizations calling for the mission’s renewal emphasize that it can play a key role in promoting accountability and maintaining international scrutiny amid widespread repression. Despite not operating on the ground, the mission has been able to gather evidence and document human rights violations, making it an essential mechanism for justice and accountability in Venezuela.
The situation in Venezuela is dire, with ongoing state-led repression amounting to crimes against humanity, according to some reports [[1]]. The lack of access to economic and social rights is a serious concern, with the majority of the population experiencing severe food insecurity [[3]]. The Venezuelan authorities have failed to investigate allegations of serious human rights violations, exacerbating the crisis [[2]].
In this context, the renewal of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela is crucial. It is essential that the international community continues to scrutinize the human rights situation in Venezuela and holds those responsible for abuses accountable. The mission’s work can help to ensure that the perpetrators of human rights violations are brought to justice, and that the people of Venezuela are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms without fear of reprisal.
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What are the key reasons behind the call for the renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela?
What are the key reasons behind the call for the renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela?
The United Nations Human Rights Council is being urged to renew the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which has been investigating human rights violations in the country since 2019. This call to action comes from a coalition of 29 national and international organizations, who argue that the mission’s renewal is crucial in the face of ongoing state-led repression and widespread human rights abuses in Venezuela.
One of the key reasons behind the call for renewal is the need to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable. The mission’s reports have been instrumental in highlighting the scale and severity of human rights violations in Venezuela, and have identified mid- and high-ranking authorities as responsible for these abuses [[5]]. The organizations calling for the mission’s renewal emphasize that it can play a key role in promoting accountability and maintaining international scrutiny amid widespread repression.
Another reason for the renewal is the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, which has been exacerbated by the recent presidential elections. The opposition has claimed that the election was fraudulent, backing their claims with evidence from 83.5% of electoral records. However, the government has dismissed these allegations as false. The controversy has sparked nationwide protests, which have been met with brutal repression by the authorities, resulting in 25 deaths and over 2,400 arrests [[3]]
