41st session of the Human Rights
Council
Enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation
of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Statement by UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
5 July 2019
Mr President,
Members of the Human Rights
Council,
Excellencies,
As requested by Council resolution
39/1, the Office has submitted a report on the human rights crisis in
Venezuela.
In March, my staff conducted a
technical visit to the country. Human rights officers also made nine visits to
interview Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Spain.
Additionally, I was able to visit
Caracas two weeks ago – the first official mission by a High Commissioner for
Human Rights. I met with President
Nicolás Maduro Moros and several Government ministers and officials. I also met
the president of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General and the Ombudsman. I
held discussions with the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as
well as Members of Parliament, and the President of the National Constituent
Assembly.
I also had meetings with
representatives of the Catholic Church, the business sector, academia, trade
unions, human rights organisations, civil society, the diplomatic community,
the United Nations country team, and approximately 200 victims and their
families.
Let me begin this update on a
positive note. I am hopeful that the access which I was granted – together with
the authorities’ subsequent acceptance of a continuing presence of two human
rights officers to conduct monitoring, and commence providing technical
assistance and advice – signify the beginning of positive engagement on the
country's many human rights issues.
However, as our report makes clear,
essential institutions and the rule of law in Venezuela have been profoundly
eroded. The exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and
assembly, and the right to participate in public life, entail a risk of
reprisals and repression. Our report notes attacks against actual or perceived
opponents and human rights defenders, ranging from threats and smear campaigns
to arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence, and killings
and enforced disappearance.
Excessive and lethal force has
repeatedly been used against protestors. My Office has also documented
excessive use of force in the context of security operations by the Special
Action Forces, with multiple killings, mainly of young men. Many may constitute
extrajudicial killings, and should be fully investigated, with accountability
of perpetrators, and guarantees of non-recurrence.
The death in custody six days ago of a retired Navy captain –
allegedly after torture – is deeply regrettable. I note the opening of an
investigation and the arrest of two military counter-intelligence officers in
this context. However, there is a pattern of torture reports in Venezuela in
the context of arbitrary detention. The authorities must ensure full
investigation in accordance with international standards, as well as
accountability and, where relevant, remedy for all cases of alleged torture.
Mr President,
The Venezuelan people are enduring
an economic breakdown. Since 2013, the cumulative contraction of GDP has been
44.3%, and cumulative inflation since 2013 reached a dramatic 2,866,670% at the
end of January 2019 – 2.8 million percent. Over the past two years, public
revenue has dropped with the drastic reduction of oil exports.
Figures
published by the Central Bank of Venezuela on 28 May 2019 show that key
economic indicators began to decline well before August 2017. Regardless, the
latest economic sanctions are further exacerbating this situation, given that
most of the country's foreign exchange earnings derive from oil exports, many
of which are linked to the US market. In addition, the effects of these
sanctions appear to be affecting the
State's ability to provide basic health service to the population.
Humanitarian assistance from the United
Nations and other actors has been gradually accepted by the Government.
However, the scale of the crisis is such that it is difficult to fully respond
to the needs of the people.
The situation has had a negative
impact on people's livelihoods – and indeed, their lifespan, particularly of
those most vulnerable. In the course of my visit I met many people who are
suffering. The minimum wage – which is estimated at around $7 USD per month cannot cover even 5% of the basic food basket
for a family of five people. Deaths from malnutrition have been reported -
although data on this has not been released.
Venezuela is a country with many
valuable resources, including formidable oil and gold reserves, a young and
vibrant population, key location and systems which for many years provided free
universal healthcare, education and other public services. The current and
dramatic crisis has dramatic impact on economic, social and cultural rights as
well as political and civil rights.
Many public services have all but
collapsed, including transportation, electricity and water. The healthcare
sector is in critical condition. The non-availability of basic medication and
equipment is causing preventable deaths, while non-availability of
contraception forces many women to bear children they will not be able to
adequately care for.
An assessment of humanitarian needs conducted by OCHA in
March found that an estimated seven million people in Venezuela need
humanitarian assistance: one quarter of the population.
Hunger and deprivation have led
many to become migrants or refugees. Many are forced to leave in ill-health,
without economic resources of any kind, and the human rights protection of
migrants and refugees must be considered a matter of urgency.
I am also concerned about the
situation of indigenous peoples in Venezuela. In particular, I note loss of
control over their traditional lands, territories, and resources;
militarization; violence; lack of access to adequate food and water; and the
effects of mining.
Members of indigenous communities
are reportedly being exploited in conditions of slavery for the illegal
extraction of gold. There has been
violence against some indigenous authorities and leaders, and statements by
various officials have been reported, suggesting an intention to eliminate
members of the Pemón community who oppose the Government.
As I said in Caracas, to all
political leaders, the only way out of this crisis is to come together, in
dialogue. I encourage the Government to view the opposition and human rights
defenders as partners in the common cause of human rights and justice, and to
plant the seeds for a durable political agreement that leads to reconciliation.
Among other points, the Government
has agreed to allow us to carry out an evaluation of the National Commission
for the Prevention of Torture, including a commitment to full access to all
centres of detention. I look forward to the honouring of this and other
commitments.
We will also conduct an assessment
of major obstacles to access to justice. Furthermore, the authorities have
stated they will engage more substantively with international human rights
bodies. In particular, they have agreed to accept ten visits from the Council's
Special Procedures experts over the next two years.
We have also been consistently
advocating for the release of all those who are currently in detention for acts
of non-violent dissent. Prior to my visit, three detainees were released.
Subsequently, 59 Colombian nationals, including one woman, who had been
arbitrarily detained since 2016 were also released. And just yesterday, 22
detainees were also released. We welcome these releases and encourage the
authorities to release others detained for the exercise of their human rights.
Above all, as I expressed in my
meetings with victims and their families, all Venezuelans have fundamental
human rights. They deserve to enjoy those rights. I sincerely hope that the
Office will be able to assist in improving the human rights situation in
Venezuela.
The situation is complex, but the
report contains clear, concrete recommendations for the way forward. I
sincerely hope the authorities will take these recommendations in the
constructive spirit in which they are made.
As I said in Caracas, the fate of
more than 30 million Venezuelans rests on the leadership's willingness and
ability to put the human rights of the people ahead of any personal,
ideological or political ambitions. It is for this Council and the
international community to support them in this shared endeavour.
We should all
be able to agree that all Venezuelans deserve a better life, free from fear,
and with access to adequate food, water, healthcare, housing and all other
basic human needs. For my part, I stand ready to accompany the people of
Venezuela.
Thank you Mr President.
For more information and media
requests, please contact: Rupert Colville - + 41 22 917 9767 /
rcolville@ohchr.org or Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 /
rshamdasani@ohchr.org or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / mhurtado@ohchr.org
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