Not less than 16 prisons in Venezuela could be on starvation strike on account of procedural delays

Prisoners from a minimum of 16 prisons in Venezuela keep the starvation strike that they started on Sunday in protest, primarily, towards the procedural delay, reported this Monday the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (OVP), a non-governmental group that defends the rights of prisoners. of freedom.

The NGO registered strikes in 16 of the 23 states of the nation, which embody prisons, 4 annexes for imprisoned girls and 14 preventive detention facilities.

By way of X, the NGO printed a number of movies exhibiting dozens of prisoners – women and men – singing the nationwide anthem and displaying banners contained in the penitentiary facilities.

In a doc despatched to the OVP, a gaggle of inmates – whose quantity was not offered – requested that deputies, judges, the Public Ministry and public protection seem “in order that the follow of the judicial revolution plan turns into efficient,” which contemplated fixing in 60 days overcrowding and procedural delays in Venezuela’s prisons, as introduced by President Nicolás Maduro in 2021.

The letter additionally calls for “rapid launch for personal people who’re experiencing procedural delays,” in addition to “any particular person over 70 years of age” and people who are sick “who can’t be handled within the detention facilities.”

“Now we have a significant issue of procedural delays, judicial ensures, overcrowding, well being, corruption; Now we have a significant issue of meals and trafficking of weapons and medicines,” mentioned Humberto Prado, director of the OVP.

With out mentioning the strike, within the final 24 hours, the Ministries of the Inside and Penitentiary have shared photos via the jail inhabitants within the nation.”

The OVP reported that it’s documenting the circumstances and that it has despatched communications to the Inter-American Fee on Human Rights, the World Group Towards Torture, Amnesty Worldwide, the rapporteur of the Committee Towards Torture in Geneva, the Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner and the Worldwide Federation for Human Rights.