Bachelet: "The human rights situation continues to affect millions of people in Venezuela"

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle BacheletHe on Monday called on Chavismo and the Venezuelan opposition to resume negotiations to overcome the political and human rights crisis in the country, which has further worsened.

"I reiterate my call to the government and the opposition to overcome their differences and prioritize the negotiations that I see as the only way to overcome the current situation," said the former President of Chile to the UN Human Rights Council. .

Bachelet reiterated its availability "to support all efforts that contribute to overcoming the current crisis affecting millions of Venezuelans", declaring their support "for the space offered by the Kingdom of Norway, as well as for the various dialogue initiatives that the international community has carried out is leadership. "

He referred to the series of discussions that representatives of the Government of Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó began in May in Oslo and Barbados to agree on a way out of the political crisis. The dialogue was destroyed in August.

Bachelet took advantage of his presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council to review the situation in Venezuela after his visit in June, which was followed by a report accusing the government of cutting back the government. democratic space and violate its obligation to guarantee food and medical care.

"Since the presentation of my report (…), the situation of human rights continues to affect millions of people in Venezuela. destabilizing impacts in the region"He lamented, confirming his willingness to" continue to cooperate with the authorities in order to make substantial changes and put an end to human rights violations. "

He also expressed concern about the "public disqualifications and threats" received by some civil society organizations collaborating in the preparation of this report. "The reprisals for cooperating with the UN are unacceptable and I urge the authorities to take preventive measures," he said.

ARBITRARY DETENTION AND TORTURES

With regard to the prison situation and the detainees, Bachelet said that "there has been recent progress" as his team was able to visit the Ramo Verde military prison in Caracas last Saturday, and "Progress is being made in a protocol and schedule of visits in the coming months."

The government released 83 people, "including those whose detention was found to be arbitrary," although he recalled that the "full release" of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni and journalist Braulio Jatar, released with measures partial, was in progress.

Bachelet has also documented "cases of torture and ill-treatment, both physical and psychological, of persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, especially soldiers," and recalled the captain's case. Rafael Acosta, deceased in detention on June 29. The autopsy revealed that "he had suffered multiple strokes, bruises, excoriations and burns".

The head of human rights denounced the continued use of military justice against civilians and the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), executed by the Constituent Assembly, of the uproot the immunity of 25 deputies from the opposition in the National Assembly, two of whom are awaiting trial.

EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS

Bachelet drew attention to documented cases of "possible extrajudicial executions by members of the Special Action Forces (FAES)". The local NGO Monitor de Víctimas denounced the fact that only 57 new cases were recorded in Caracas.

"The documented cases show the same pattern as that identified in my June report and reveal the lack of effective mechanisms to protect witnesses and relatives of victims, who are mostly women," and far from dissolving the FAES, as recommended by the UN, "they received support at the highest level of government".

Bachelet estimated that between August 2017 and May 2019, 104 members of the security forces had been convicted for human rights violations, but he asked "to speed up investigations and criminal proceedings. relating to the rest of the death cases in the context of the demonstrations. "

ECONOMIC SITUATION

Bachelet said in his presentation that "the economic and social situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate rapidly, limiting the exercise of the economic and social rights of millions of people".

He also explained that the Venezuelan economy "is currently going through what could be the most acute episode of hyperinflationary that the region has experienced", which affects "the ability to buy from food, medicine and other essentials ".

To date, he said, the minimum wage equals $ 2 a month, for which families need at least 41 minimum wages a month to fill their basket. 35% of cases of chronic malnutrition among children under 5 years old treated in June in the poorest regions of 18 Venezuelan states, said Bachelet.

In addition, "public services continued to suffer serious and recurrent failures". Bachelet pointed out "insufficient access to medicines and treatments" that afflict more than 400,000 people with chronic diseases. In recent months, at least four children would have died while waiting for a trip abroad to receive a transplant.

In this context, Bachelet expressed his concern "for the potentially serious impact on human rights of the new series of sanctions imposed by the US government"despite the exceptions envisaged in the field of humanitarian aid.

"The strict supervision of the financial sector, the reduction of public revenues and the decline in oil production already have a major impact on social programs and the population in general, all of which contribute to the aggravation of the humanitarian situation and the exodus. Population." Venezuelan people, "he warned.

MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Bachelet also recalled that there were more than four million Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the world and, while welcoming the reception efforts of neighboring countries, he stressed "the need to take steps to ensure a safe, orderly and regular migration".

The High Commissioner stressed that "they should not impose obstacles to access to the territory that could increase irregular migration and exacerbate the risks of being a victim of various forms of violence and exploitation ".

In this regard, Bachelet denounced "cases of migrant migrants who are victims of trafficking, in particular women, girls and boys, for the purpose of badual exploitation, forced labor and recruitment to illegal activities by the organized crime and other armed groups ", as well as the disappearance of dozens of migrants in the Caribbean "apparently linked to traffic networks".

Finally, Michèle Bachelet expressed her concern about "reports of xenophobia outbreaks in the countries of the region" and again asked the authorities of host countries to take measures to "to mitigate and prevent them while preserving the rights of migrants and refugees."

S.D.