Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela. Photo: Venezuelan presidential press.
In a new report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)led by former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, new cases of torture, executions, arbitrary arrests and persecutions of the opposition In Venezuela.
The survey, which covers the period from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022, warned that while the country chaired by Nicolás Maduro has shown some progress on the recommendations presented in previous reports, serious human rights violations remain.
In this sense, the OHCHR documented six cases in which state security forces acted in marginalized neighborhoods and left citizens dead. “In at least three of these cases, the deceased would have suffered torture or ill-treatment before death“he warned.
Also, registered “on arbitrary detention of at least 13 people“during security operations. He also received reports of arrest in”isolation“, given that relatives of the detainees have not received information on their whereabouts for up to a month.” In at least three of these cases, the detainees would have been tortured or mistreated“, to complete.
On the other hand, while acknowledging the progress made in reducing judicial delays and resorting to detention, he clarified that still “challenges persist in securing the right of all people accused to freedom and a fair trial without undue delay “.
Michele Bachelet, Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. photo EFE.
Regarding this section, it was reported on “35 cases of violation of the right to libertyof which six women “, while, at the time of writing the report,” at least 22 people were still subjected coercive measures beyond the limits required by current legislation “.
They also indicated that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued opinions stating that “11 people arrested were in arbitrary detention“.
“They have been observed arbitrary arrests in the context of peaceful protestseven if lower than in previous reporting periods “, he specified.
Regarding the physical and mental integrity of the detainees, the Public Prosecutor “received 235 complaints for alleged human rights violations of persons deprived of their liberty, including 20 related to persons facing terrorism-related charges.
Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela. Photo: REUTERS / Leonardo Fernandez Viloria.
For its part, the OHCHR directly received “reports of torture or ill-treatment relating to 14 persons deprived of their liberty” and complained that “the lack of adequate investigation and protection against reprisals discourages victims from reporting”.
Persecution of the opposition in Venezuela
According to the report, “in Venezuela undue restrictions on the civic and democratic space continue to be observed, in particular stigmatization, criminalization and threats against dissenting voicesof civil society, the media and trade unionists, which affect their ability to effectively carry out their legitimate work “.
In this sense, “154 cases have been documented, including 46 cases of criminalization, 26 reports of threats and harassment, 11 acts of violence and 71 cases of stigmatization of human rights defenders, journalists and other members of civil society “.
Also, at least five members of the political opposition were arrestedwhile “two union leaders and a human rights activist remained in detention at the time of writing”.
There have also been “cases of violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression affecting journalists, media and media workers, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society “
“34 cases have been documented, including harassment, censorship and confiscation of media equipment,” the OHCHR completed.
Source: Clarin
