- Some of the countries that support the declaration are Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay | Photo: Pixabay
A group of 45 UN member countries on Tuesday, September 10, called on the Human Rights Council (HRC) to “put an end to the wave of repression against political opponents and protesters that is intensifying throughout the country” and to immediately and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained.
The signatories of the declaration, which was read before the UN Council by Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, also called on the Venezuelan authorities to fully respect “international standards on due process and conditions of detention.”
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The states that support the declaration include Latin American nations such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, along with EU member states such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Germany, as well as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.
Mondino told the Council that the signatory countries wish to convey their deep concern about the structural human rights crisis that Venezuela is experiencing, which has been exacerbated this year in the context of the electoral process.
What does the statement submitted to the Human Rights Council say?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
In the statement, the signatory countries warned that in the weeks following the July 28 elections the situation has worsened with “arbitrary arrests of opposition figures, journalists and protesters, including children, adolescents, women and people with disabilities.”
There was also disproportionate use of force by security forces but also by groups of armed civilians known as colectivos, as well as other abuses including the judicial persecution initiated by the Venezuelan State against Edmundo González.
“Under the pretext of inciting hatred or under anti-terrorist legislation, people seeking to exercise their political rights and their legitimate right to peaceful protest are persecuted, arrested and deprived of their liberty,” the statement said.
They also regretted the decision of the Venezuelan authorities to suspend cooperation with the UN Human Rights Office (which resulted in the expulsion of its workers in Venezuela from the country last February) and called for this relationship to be resumed.
The States requested that the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, responsible for investigating human rights abuses in the country, be allowed to enter Venezuela and will present its latest report on the matter to the same UN Council on 19 September.
With information from EFE
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2024-09-11 02:29:42
Human rights Watch Venezuela
International Community Condemns Human Rights Abuses in Venezuela
In a strong show of unity, 45 countries, including Latin American nations, EU member states, and other major powers, have come together to condemn the ongoing human rights abuses in Venezuela. The declaration, read before the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on September 10, calls for an end to the wave of repression against political opponents and protesters, and demands the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained.
The signatory countries, which include Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada, have expressed deep concern about the situation in Venezuela. They have called on the Venezuelan authorities to fully respect international standards on due process and conditions of detention.
The condemnation comes amid reports of escalating violence and human rights abuses in Venezuela. According to Human Rights Watch, Venezuelan security forces have been implicated in killings during post-election protests [1]. The UN rights office has also described a pervasive “climate of fear” in Venezuela, with attacks on civic and democratic space increasing through policies aimed at silencing opposition and criticism of the government [2].
Protesters have taken to the streets in Venezuela’s capital, with at least 25 people killed and nearly 200 injured in post-election protests [3]. The situation has been exacerbated by the detention of political prisoners, with over 1,793 reported to be arbitrarily detained in Venezuela.
The international community’s condemnation of human rights abuses in Venezuela is a welcome development in the struggle for democracy and human rights in the country. The declaration sends a strong message to the Venezuelan authorities that the world is watching, and that they will be held accountable for their actions.
In the face of growing international pressure, the Venezuelan government must take immediate action to address the human rights crisis in the country. This includes releasing political prisoners, respecting the rights of protesters, and engaging in meaningful dialogue to resolve the political crisis.
The people of Venezuela deserve to live in a country where their human rights are respected, and where they can exercise their democratic freedoms without fear of persecution. The international community must continue to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and hold the government accountable for its actions.
References:
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2024). Human rights group implicates Venezuelan security forces in killings during post-election protests.
[2] UN News. (2024). Venezuela: UN rights office describes pervasive ‘climate of fear’.
[3] Al Jazeera. (2024). Protesters rally in Venezuela’s capital as post-election crisis persists.
Human rights Watch Venezuela
Venezuela Faces International Pressure over Human Rights Abuses
In a significant move, 45 UN member countries
