UN mission calls for “stopping the growing repression in Venezuela”

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, called on the government on Monday to “immediately stop the growing repression that has been shaking the country since the presidential election on July 28.”

The Mission noted –through a statement– that “The protests in the streets and on social media in the weeks following the elections gave way to fierce repression by the state machinery, led by its highest authorities, creating a climate of widespread fear. The Mission has recorded 23 deaths, the vast majority by gunfire, which took place between 28 July and 8 August, in the context of the protests. In 18 cases, the victims were men under 30 years of age.”

Marta Valiñas, president of the Mission, said that “The deaths reported in the context of the protests must be thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, abusive use of lethal force by security forces and the participation of armed civilians acting with the connivance of said forcesthose responsible must be held accountable”said

After analyzing data published by various human rights organizations, the Mission was able to preliminarily conclude that At least 1,260 people have been arrested since July 28, including 160 women. Most of the arrests took place in the Capital District (18%), followed by the states of Carabobo (16%) and Anzoátegui (9%). Data announced by the Attorney General of the Republic raise the number to 2,200 people, indiscriminately classified as “terrorists”, who have been arrested.

The Mission “has recorded common elements in these arrests, which make them arbitrary detentions and constitute serious violations of due process, leaving people unprotected before the justice system. These elements include summary telematic hearings, carried out by the Caracas courts with jurisdiction over terrorism, even if the events had occurred elsewhere; the imposition of serious criminal charges such as terrorism, conspiracy and hate crimes, without any evidentiary basis to support them or applied in a disproportionate manner; the denial of information to relatives or late and incomplete information; or impediments to the appointment of trusted lawyers for the detained persons.”

“All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately,” said Patricia Tappatá, an expert with the Mission. “Authorities must strictly respect international standards on due process and conditions of detention, using formal channels to communicate with relatives”, Indian.

The statement said that among those arrested were leaders, members and supporters of political parties, journalists, as well as human rights defenders, considered or perceived as opponents by the authorities. However, the vast majority of those arrested simply expressed their rejection of the result of the presidential election announced by the authorities. Many of these arrests occurred after people participated in protests or expressed their opinions on social media, when the authorities selectively went to their homes.

“The Mission has received particularly worrying information about the arrests of more than 100 children and adolescents, who have been charged with the same serious crimes as adults. In addition, children and adolescents do not have the presence of their parents or guardians during judicial proceedings,” the statement says.

Francisco Cox, an expert from the Mission, indicated that “The Mission firmly demands the obligation to ensure that detained children and adolescents are treated in strict accordance with international standards for the protection of children, respecting their best interests.”

In September 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through the resolution 42/25 for one year to assess alleged human rights violations committed since 2014. The Human Rights Council, through resolutions 45/20 y 51/29extended the mandate of the international Mission for two more years, until September 2024. The Mission will present its next annual report during the Council’s interactive dialogue in September.