Venezuela: UN human rights office describes widespread ‘climate of fear’
“This is the climate of fear in the country today. We are urging the government to ensure that every step is taken in accordance with international human rights law. with transparency and steps taken to resolve this dispute peacefully,” OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani speaks to reporters in Geneva.
This warning is just the latest of many from the United Nations, leading independent rights experts and independent organizations. investigators appointed by Human Rights Council about the violent suppression of dissenting voices in the South American country.
“People are being detained for expressing their right to political participation, their right to freedom of expression, their right to freedom of assembly,” Shamdasani said, a day after authorities issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo Gonzalez.
His campaign was unsuccessful against President Nicolas Maduro, who was declared the winner of the July election, a result disputed by opposition supporters who questioned the lack of a vote count in favor of a victory from official electoral bodies.
Query poll results
According to reports, Mr. Gonzalez’s arrest came after his camp released detailed polling data showing he had easily won the election. He is accused of multiple crimes including falsifying documents.
Although the UN human rights office is not present in Venezuela, Ms Shamdasani noted that OHCHR has been in “contact” and “engagement” with the authorities in Caracas, amid street protests and online criticism following the election results that returned Mr Maduro to power.
“We continue to express our concerns to them; we continue to urge…all parties to resolve any election disputes by peaceful means and There needs to be an environment where the human rights of all individuals are fully protected regardless of their political affiliation.Ms. Shamdasani emphasized.
State-sponsored violence
According to the Fact-Finding Mission appointed by the Human Rights Council on Venezuelaelection protests were met with “violent repression by the State, at the direction of the highest authorities, creating a widespread climate of fear. The Mission recorded 23 deaths, mostly from gunfire, between 28 July and 8 August in the context of the protests. In 18 of these cases, the victims were men under the age of 30.”
Echoing those concerns last month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, noted that more than 2,400 people have been arrested in Venezuela since July 29, after the presidential election.
“It is particularly worrying that so many people are being detained, charged or charged under hate crimes or counter-terrorism laws. Criminal law should never be used to unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” the High Commissioner said.
