The human rights situation in Venezuela continues to take a devastating toll on the people of the country and is having destabilizing effects across Latin America, UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet told members of the Human Rights Council today at the United Nations in Geneva.
The High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said that since the presentation of her report to the Council on 5 July, “the human rights situation has continued to affect millions of people in Venezuela, with clear destabilizing impacts in the region.”
She explained that this was the reason for her my commitment to continue cooperating with the authorities there, in order to achieve “substantial changes.”
She also said, “regarding the situation of detention centres and detainees, there have been recent advances,” acknowledging that the Government led by Nicolas Maduro has released a number of detainees, but that some cases are “still pending.”
The High Commissioner said, “on the other hand, the economic and social situation continues to rapidly deteriorate,” adding that “limiting the enjoyment of economic and social rights of millions of people.”
She added, “it is within this context, that on 8 August I expressed my concern regarding the potentially severe impact on human rights of the new sanctions imposed by the Government of the United States of America.”
With food and medicine increasingly scarce in Venezuela, the relief agency Caritas is reporting reported 35 percent chronic malnutrition in children under five in some areas.
Bachelet said, “regarding the Right to Health, I am particularly concerned with insufficient access to medicines and treatment for the more than 400,000 people suffering from chronic diseases,” adding that deaths of kidney patients have been recorded due to shortages in medicines and supplies over the last two years.
Turning her attention to reports of killings by “special forces” in the country, Bachelet said, “my Office has continued to document cases of possible extrajudicial executions committed by members of the Special Action Forces of the Bolivarian National Police – known as FAES – in some areas of the country.”
In her update on Venezuela, the High Commissioner also emphasized – as she did when speaking of other countries – the need to protect indigenous peoples and their territories.
She said, “I am concerned about the increased presence of the military in the territory of the Pemon indigenous peoples, as well as recent cases of violence against indigenous people,” mentioning that among others, the recent deaths of four Warao tribe members – including a pregnant woman and a 6-year old child.
Bachelet added, “I am also concerned about the impact of mining for gold, diamond, coltan, and other metals in the Arco Minero del Orinoco is having on the way of life of indigenous peoples, as well as the impact in their territories,” further underlining the link between environmental exploitation in mining areas and human rights.
In an appeal to Venezuelan authorities, Bachelet said that her office “has documented cases of torture and ill-treatment, both physical and psychological, of people arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, particularly members of the military. Conditions of detention do not meet minimum international standards and those detained do not have access to adequate medical attention. I call on the authorities to take action to correct these practices, to allow access to medical care, and investigate human rights violations.”
The High Commissioner concluded by calling both the Government and the opposition to overcome their differences and prioritize negotiations~ UNTV CH
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