Michelle Bachelet called for the lifting of “sectoral sanctions” against Venezuela | The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced a “worsening of the humanitarian and economic situation”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle bachelet, called on all countries that have “sectoral sanctions” against Venezuela to lift them because they worsened the precarious economic and social situation of the population. However, Bachelet did not mention the lifting of the personal sanctions that weigh on various members of the executive of Nicolás Maduro. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela pointed out that The report of the High Commissioner “Reaffirms the devastating effects of unilateral coercive measures” and it directly mentions those “adopted by the government of the United States of America against the country from 2014”. Reiterating one of his usual criticisms, Bachelet rejected the “intimidation” and “criminalization” of social activists, a complaint that the Venezuelan government called “unsubstantiated claims”.

Rejection of sanctions against Venezuela

Bachelet presented a summary of his office’s latest report on Venezuela at the opening of the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, noting that the sanctions have increased the impact of the pandemic in the country. “The pre-existing humanitarian and economic situation has been worsened by both the covid-19 pandemic and sectoral sanctions, further limiting access to basic services. I reiterate my call for the lifting of these sanctions, ”he said.

Sanctions ban transactions with companies suspected of being involved in activities deemed illegal on behalf of a government, and in the case of Venezuela, they mainly affect entities in the petroleum and mining sector. In the Bachelet office report, countries are asked to maintain their humanitarian aid to Venezuela, especially with regard to the pandemic, and to ensure an equitable distribution of vaccines, which have been widely available in rich countries to the detriment of poor. .

Bachelet also observed that the economic and social programs implemented in recent years have failed to raise an income level which continues to be “dramatically low”, “insufficient to guarantee an adequate standard of living”. In this sense, he demanded a strengthening of basic services, “especially for the most vulnerable groups”, and regretted “the lack of public data to adequately monitor and inform public policies”.

In another section of the document, Bachelet was convinced that “the ongoing political dialogue in Mexico can lead to meaningful solutions and translate into greater progress in the protection of human rights. concern over “further restrictions and continued reports of intimidation and criminalization of human rights defenders and union leaders for their legitimate activities ”.

Another of the recurring requests of the Office of Human Rights concerns police and judicial reforms, to which Bachelet added on this occasion a call for “the total release of all those arbitrarily detained”. The former Chilean president stressed that 152 people have been released since June 2020 in the context of shared business through cooperation mechanisms.

The Venezuelan reaction

“Venezuela takes note of the report with regard to the situation of economic, social and cultural rights in the country and the relations of cooperation between the Venezuelan State and the said office, ”reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The portfolio in charge of Félix Plasencia ensures that, As an effect of the sanctions, there was “a 99 percent decrease in national income., as well as the existence of elements allowing to consider that these measures involve the commission of crimes against humanity, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute ”.

On the other hand, the Venezuelan government considers “regrettable that the aforementioned report” reproduces what it considers to be “methodological flaws present in previous documents” by incorporating “unsubstantiated claims that have not been properly verified with state authorities”. In this sense, Venezuela rejects the “false assertions of the report on arbitrary detentions or alleged persecutions for the exercise or defense of human rights, which it frames” in the political scenario of those who use this affair to attack Venezuela “.

Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has ratified that government will continue to “cooperate” with the UN “Based on respect for the truth and the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity, impartiality, non-interference in internal affairs and constructive dialogue as a mechanism for raising the truth of Venezuela before this body . ” For this reason he has “agreed to renew the letter of understanding between Venezuela and OHCHR for a period of one year, increasing the presence of Office officials in the country and expanding the areas of technical assistance and cooperation.