Statement at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner report on Venezuela
Delivered by CIVICUS and Espacio Público
Thank you Mr President,
In Venezuela, persecution against government critics continues.
Leonardo Azócar and Daniel Romero, workers of the state-owned company SIDOR, have been detained since 11 June, accused of boycott and incitement to hatred. Together with 20 other workers, they have been prosecuted for exercising their right to strike.
Javier Tarazona, director of the organisation FundaRedes, completed his third year in detention this past third of July. He was accused of "treason", "terrorism" and "incitement to hatred".
Since last year, 19 people have been prosecuted under the "hate law". Since 2017, there has been a total of 83 victims of this "law".
Judicial harassment continues after release from prison. Criminal proceedings do not end; excessive and illegal precautionary measures sustain criminalisation.
Ana Belen Tovar has been prosecuted since 2019 for publishing information of public interest about a high-ranking official. Her hearing was postponed 11 times in 4 years, the process continues despite the lack of evidence.
Regulatory uncertainty over the media is pursposefully used as a control mechanism. This facilitated the closure of 81 radio stations in 2022 and of at least 5 so far this year, in addition to several programmes suspended due to government pressure. Power outages and digital media blockades remain in place.
We urge the Council to maintain its attention on Venezuela and we ask the High Commissioner what the Council should do to avoid further restrictions, which undermine guarantees for future electoral processes.
Thank you.
Civic space in Venezuela is rated as "Repressed" by the CIVICUS Monitor
