Venezuela: ICJ addresses UN on access to justice for human rights violations

The ICJ today highlighted the lack of judicial independence and other obstacles to access to justice for human rights violations in Venezuela, at the UN Human Rights Council.

The statement, delivered in an interactive dialogue on the relevant report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, read as follows:

“Madame President,

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) welcomes the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ on the situation in Venezuela pursuant to resolution 42/25. The ICJ regrets however that the report was not published sufficiently in advance of the Interactive Dialogue to allow for detailed analysis and response.

The report points to a wide range of violations of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights in the country.

The ICJ has documented over many years the lack of judicial independence and the absence of domestic accountability for human rights violations in Venezuela. In the Arco Minero of the Orinoco, we have seen numerous alleged cases of enforced disappearances, human trafficking, threats to human rights defenders, and serious abuses of the rights of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women and children.

The ICJ would like to ask the High Commissioner to elaborate on the long-entrenched obstacles to accountability for human rights violations in the Venezuelan justice system, and on the abuses against indigenous peoples in the Arco Minero.

The ICJ also looks forward to the discussion of and action on the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission’s report at the 45th session of the Council in September, and urges the Council to stand ready to extend the mandate, and to enlarge the scope, of the Fact-Finding Mission at that time.

Thank you.”

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