2024-02-16 04:07:05
The Government of Venezuela announced this Thursday its decision to suspend the activities of the Caracas office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations (UN) considering that it has “instrumentalized” its work once morest the Executive.
(Also: The report that the Democratic Center will deliver to the OAS on the situation in Colombia)
The staff who work there, made up of 13 people, have 72 hours to leave the country, Foreign Minister Yván Gil reported in a press conference.
(You can read: Venezuela: suspension of gold license comes into force following reimposition of sanctions)
Related topics
The announcement was made by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, who stated that “this decision was made due to the inappropriate role that this institution has developed, which, far from showing it as an impartial entity, has led it to become the private law firm of the group of coup plotters and terrorists who constantly conspire once morest the country.”
Gil clarified that the decision will be maintained “until they publicly rectify before the international community their colonialist, abusive and violating attitude of the United Nations Charter.”
(You can read: How did oil production fare in Venezuela following the lifting of sanctions?)
In addition to suspending the activities of this technical office, the Venezuelan Government indicated that it will carry out a “comprehensive review of the terms of cooperation” agreed with this organization in the next 30 days.
Since the signing of the letter of understanding in 2019, the office “has maintained a clearly biased and partial position, constantly seeking impunity for people involved in various assassination attempts, coups d’état, conspiracies and other serious attacks once morest sovereignty and the constitution,” the letter continues.
However, it reiterated its “willingness to continue cooperating with international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, always on the basis of genuine dialogue and in strict adherence to the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity, impartiality, respect for sovereignty and non-interference.” in internal affairs”.
(Also: Relatives of Rocío San Miguel, accused of ‘terrorism’ in Venezuela, are released from prison)
This decision comes a day following the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, assured that the Venezuelan government prevented him from visiting detention centers and that the authorities constantly changed his agenda during his two-week visit. to the country, which concluded on Wednesday.
It also follows recent comments from the High Commissioner’s Office that demanded the release of activist Rocío San Miguel, detained and imprisoned for allegedly being involved in an assassination conspiracy once morest Nicolás Maduro.
This measure increases the lack of protection of victims once morest abuse, and attempts to prevent the scrutiny of international protection bodies.
San Miguel is director of the NGO Control Ciudadano, which records cases of human rights violations once morest civilians and the military. She is also an authority on issues of the Armed Forces. She was arrested on February 9 when she was preparing to travel abroad with her daughter, who had also been detained, but she was released on parole.
(You can read: Who is Rocío San Miguel and why was she detained by the Maduro Government?)
The prosecution accused her of “treason”, “terrorism” and “conspiracy”, linking her “directly” to an alleged plan to assassinate Maduro.
Her ex-husband, retired colonel Alejandro José Gonzales, was also captured on suspicion of “revelation of political and military secrets.”
Her two brothers and her daughter’s father were also detained, although they would later be released.
The United States and the European Union, as well as the UN human rights office, expressed “deep concern” regarding the case.
(Also: Video: María Corina Machado was attacked and evacuated from a campaign event)
After this Thursday’s announcement, some reactions have been known. The NGO Provea, which defends human rights in Venezuela, expressed its rejection of the government’s decision on its X account.
“This measure increases the lack of protection of victims in the face of abuse, and attempts to prevent the scrutiny of international protection bodies in the face of the serious violations of #HR that are committed daily in the country,” they wrote.
UN Office for Human Rights. H H. regrets his suspension
For its part, the United Nations Office for Human Rights regretted the decision in a statement and stressed that it is examining how to act accordingly.
“We regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps,” office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a brief statement.
“We continue to talk with the authorities and other actors. Our guiding principles have been and will continue to be the promotion and protection of the human rights of Venezuelans,” added the spokesperson for the office led by High Commissioner Volker Türk.
His predecessor in office, the Chilean Michelle Bachelet, had signed an agreement in 2019 with the Government of Venezuela to improve cooperation on human rights, which allowed the continued presence of UN human rights officers in the country.
We regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps to take.
The Technical Advisory Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was installed in Venezuela in 2019, when former President Bachelet held that position.
Its main task is to “provide support for the effective implementation of the recommendations issued” in the reports that the high commissioner presents to the Human Rights Council. Since 2019, there have been at least six reports on the situation in Venezuela.
Before leaving office in August 2022, Bachelet said she saw progress on human rights in Venezuela, but that there was still “a lot to do.”
Türk visited Venezuela in January 2023, when it was agreed that the office would continue operating for two more years. During his stay he encouraged the authorities to release all those arbitrarily detained and insisted on taking measures to end torture.
The commissioner also met with various sectors of civil society, as well as government authorities, and addressed complaints regarding extrajudicial executions. He said, however, that there were restrictions on access to some detention centers in the country.
The technical reports on human rights violations have done “enormous political damage” to the Maduro government, political scientist Daniel Arias tells EL TIEMPO, which is why Caracas makes this decision.
“It is not possible for the UN to rectify these documents, which is why its personnel will withdraw from the country,” insists the analyst of regional processes.
The friction with the UN is not new, although Maduro constantly assures that he has good relations with his secretary, António Guterres.
Machado meets with the New Liberalism
After a virtual meeting with the Venezuelan opponent María Corina Machado, representatives of the New Liberalism party will promote a monitoring commission in the Colombian House of Representatives to monitor whether democratic rules are respected in Venezuela. The idea was proposed by Senator Julia Miranda Londoño. For Machado, the idea helps raise awareness of what is happening in Venezuela and can extend to Colombia. “Let the regime understand that its best option is to accept a political transition with guarantees. Very dangerous and delicate days await us, we need them and we know they are here,” Machado told the Colombian representatives led by former senator Juan Manuel Galán.
ANA MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ BRAZÓN
TIME CORRESPONDENT
CARACAS
1708058066
#suspension #office #Caracas #activists #fear #abuses
