Venezuela to join United Nations Human Rights Council – News

Venezuela won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, following a vote that the Nicolás Maduro government called a "historic victory" and opposition "Kick on the graves of people killed" by Chavista authorities

The candidacy of Venezuela was imposed with the strength of 105 votes to that of Costa Rica at the request of the United Nations General Assembly, in spite of the diplomatic offensive launched by the United States and certain countries of the United States. 39 Latin America and Europe against the nomination that finally prevailed

Costa Rica had submitted a nomination to represent the countries that had the intention of closing the passage to the arrival of a representative of the Government of Maduro, who is not recognized as president in hundred countries.

The other seat available to the Council of Latin American and Caribbean Countries was left in Brazil, which was endorsed by 153 votes.

Venezuela will replace Cuba on January 1, ending its term.

Several governments and international organizations have publicly expressed their opposition to Venezuela's candidacy.

Confirming the result, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza celebrated a "new victory for Bolivarian peace diplomacy".

"We are facing a victory that will have to be measured over the next few days, but we dare to call ourselves history," Arreaza told reporters at the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The diplomat pointed out that the government was facing "a fierce and brutal campaign from the United States and its satellite countries" with some human rights NGOs to prevent Venezuela from being elected . "

"These facts serve as lessons for the arrogance and arrogance of unilateralism, multilateralism has given you a great response," he concluded.

Last June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, published a very difficult report in which she reported hundreds of cases of torture. extrajudicial executions, torture, persecution and ill-treatment of opponents of the Government. Mature.

Bachelet said the Venezuelan authorities and their institutions had launched "a strategy to neutralize, suppress and criminalize the political opposition and government critics".

Since the opposition, the former mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, lamented the decision of the UN General Assembly and declared that "it is the world, the opposite. ".

In turn, MP Richard Blanco pointed out that the Chavista regime had violated the rights of all Venezuelans. "The killers are imprisoned, they can never be rewarded. Urgent international aid is the only way out, "he warned.

"Human rights violators create alliances to reach a space in this instance of the UN. That's why Cuba offers its position in Maduro. It is a chair that represents censorship, persecution, torture and murder, "added MP Williams Dávila.

The result of the vote contrasts with the announcement made last week by UN Human Rights Watch (HRW) director Louis Charbonneau. "Venezuela does not portray anything about the Human Rights Council," he risked.

Brazil, Chile and the United States also called unsuccessfully to restrict Venezuela's candidacy.

"We can only emphasize that Venezuela could bring the Human Rights Council into disrepute for the UN and for the world," said Chilean Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera.

A total of 14 vacancies have been filled in the Human Rights Council. in elections at which many candidates arrived unopposed within their regional groups.

In addition to Venezuela and Brazil, the following countries have been elected: Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Namibia, Indonesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, South Korea, Armenia, Poland, Netherlands and.

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace the Commission on Human Rights, abolished after 60 years of work because of the legitimacy crisis in which it had fallen due to decisions considered partial, politicized and unbalanced, the agency said. EFE.

The agency is composed of 47 countries that fulfill three-year mandates and whose seats are divided into regional groups.