View of the capital of Venezuela, Caracas. UN: Human rights situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate Human rights
Arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances continue in Venezuela, restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and acute tensions in general continue. This was stated by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
Speaking at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk stressed that since June, when he last presented his report, the situation in Venezuela has not improved.
Pressure on civil society
The High Commissioner said that in September and November, the Venezuelan government adopted laws expanding the emergency powers of the authorities under the pretext of external threats. At the same time, the content of the new legislation was not published, as a result of which the assessment of its compliance with international right remains impossible.
According to Volker Türk, the pressure on civic space has increased markedly. He also noted the increasing militarization of public life, which “increases the risk of violence in a society already facing high crime rates.” The UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) has received reports of forced recruitment into the Bolivarian National Militia, including teenagers and elderly people.
“Authorities encourage denunciations on relatives, neighbors and colleagues through a state-supported mobile application,” added Türk, emphasizing that “such a policy breeds fear, mistrust and self-censorship.”
Persecution of journalists and human rights activists
The High Commissioner recalled that the NGO Oversight Act passed last year continues to severely restrict the activities of civil society organizations. Journalists, human rights defenders, opposition members and humanitarian workers, he said, “continue to face threats, harassment and the risk of arbitrary detention for simply doing their jobs.” work. humanity”
“Many are forced to leave the country due to intimidation and persecution. When human rights defenders and journalists leave, truth and accountability go with them,” Turk said.
The UN’s top human rights official said several journalists were arbitrarily detained and remain detained, and “hundreds of people are imprisoned for political reasons.” The recent detention of the general secretary of a major trade union, he said, “has sent a chilling message to workers across the country.”At the same time, conditions of detention “undermine the physical and mental health of prisoners and, in some cases, cost them their lives.” According to OHCHR, at least five people detained in connection with the 2024 presidential elections died in conclusion.
“All these cases must be immediately and independently investigated,” Turk said.
He also pointed to the increase in the number of transfers of detainees to unknown locations, “some of which amount to forced disappearances.” In a number of centers, people continue to be held incommunicado, “which is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights.” health.
At the same time, since July, according to the High Commissioner, the detentions of “at least 17 people, mostly women, children and elderly people, have been documented in connection with the activities of their relatives.” The fate and whereabouts of another 12 people remain unknown.
The UN’s chief human rights defender has called for the unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained for civic activism.
Economic crisis and regional tensions
Speaking about the socio-economic situation, Turk noted that Venezuelans face daily “poverty and hunger.”
“Inequality and prices are rising rapidly,” he said, recalling that inflation is projected to 2025 will reach 270 percent.
“The minimum monthly wage is more than 1,000 times less than the cost of the basic food basket,” – stressed the UN representative.
Supreme The commissioner also expressed concern about the possible impact of increasing US military pressure on the human rights situation.
“History has repeatedly shown that when confrontations escalate, it is ordinary people who find themselves caught in the crossfire,” said he called on the USA to use established methods to counter the problem of drug trafficking.