AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI Index: AMR 53/6022/2017
3 April 2017
Venezuela must protect human rights defenders and end impunity for past human rights violations
Human Rights Council adopts Universal Periodic Review outcome on Venezuela
Human rights defenders in Venezuela continue to face intimidation and harassment as they carry out their legitimate activities. Many states made recommendations to guarantee freedom of expression and assembly and to ensure a free and enabling environment for civil society. Although Venezuela accepted most of the recommendations on freedom of expression, recent events demonstrate continuing challenges, for example recently CNN was removed from the cable television. Amnesty International is also deeply concerned about Venezuela’s rejection of all the recommendations about human rights defenders and the need to guarantee their protection.
The political crisis and the scarcity of basic goods, such as food and medicine, have led to peaceful protests. These have been met with the use of force by the security forces leading to serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions. While Venezuela accepted many of the recommendations regarding these concerns, it rejected important recommendations to end arbitrary detention, including to release prisoner of conscience Leopoldo Lopez in line with the recommendation issued by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Opinion No. 26/2014.
Amnesty International welcomes Venezuela’s accept of recommendations to end impunity for serious human rights violations through prompt and effective investigations and ensuring access to justice and reparations for the victims. Venezuela has the second highest murder rates per 100.000 inhabitants, however, measures taken to address these crimes breach Venezuela’s human rights obligations.
Several states raised concerns about the lack of independence of the judiciary and Amnesty International welcomes Venezuela’s acceptance of several of these and urges the government to stop misusing the judicial system to harass government critics.
Amnesty International regrets Venezuela’s rejection of recommendations to allow access for international human rights monitors, as well as recommendations to reverse its decision to denounce the American Convention on Human Rights.
Background
The UN Human Rights Council adopted the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Venezuela on 16 March 2017 during its 34th session. Prior to the adoption of the report of the review Amnesty International delivered an oral statement. Amnesty International also contributed to the information basis of the review through its submission on Venezuela: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr53/4616/2016/en/