Oct 5, 2017 | News
The ICJ calls for Venezuela to accept long-standing requests for country visits by UN Special Procedures whose mandates are most relevant to the rule of law and human rights crisis in the country.
The ICJ takes note of the announcement by the Venezuelan Government that it is inviting the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Mr. Alfred de Zayas, to visit the country.
This announcement, together with a recent invitation to the Special Rapporteur on the right to development is significant. For more than a decade, the Venezuelan Government has denied or left unanswered requests for visits to the country by numerous other of the independent experts (known as “Special Procedures”) of the United Nations. The last mission to Venezuela by a special procedure was the Special Rapporteur on Torture in 1996.
However, the breakdown of the rule of law and the extremely serious human rights situation in Venezuela make visits by other United Nations Special Procedures of urgent relevance.
“In the course of this year, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, arbitrary detention, trial of civilians by military tribunals, and persecutions and attacks against opponents, dissidents and human rights defenders have become systematic and generalized practices in Venezuela, said Federico Andreu Guzman, ICJ South America Representative.
“It is therefore difficult to see why the Government of Venezuela would not respond to long-standing requests from Special Procedure mandates relevant to these violations in favour of proactively inviting other UN experts”, Andreu Guzman added.
The ICJ therefore calls on the Government of Venezuela to invite to visit the country the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the independence of judges and lawyers; torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and on the situation of human rights defenders. All of these UN experts have long-standing requests to visit Venezuela, some for many years, which the Venezuelan Government has failed so far to accept.
“Under the Charter of the United Nations, Member States have the obligation to cooperate with the UN Special Procedures on human rights. This duty is of particular importance when the State is a member of the Human Rights Council, as is the case with Venezuela”, said Andreu Guzman.
The ICJ also calls on the Government of Venezuela to accept the request for a visit to the country that, since 2004, has been repeatedly issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Background
For several years, the following Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council have made requests to visit Venezuela: the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living; and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
At the regional level, although it denounced the American Convention on Human Rights in September 2012, Venezuela is still a State party to three Inter-American human rights treaties (Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture; Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons; and Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women). However, Venezuela has systematically ignored recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and has also denied IACHR requests to visit the country, made since 2004.
Contacts
Federico Andreu-Guzmán, ICJ South America Representative, tel: +57 311 481 8094; email: federico.andreu(a)icj.org
Carlos Ayala Corao, ICJ Commissioner (Venezuela), tel: +57 414 243 4872; email: cayala(a)cjlegal.net
Alex Conte, ICJ Global Redress and Accountability Initiative, tel: +22 979 3802; email: alex.conte(a)icj.org
Oct 5, 2017 | Comunicados de prensa
La CIJ hace un llamado a Venezuela a que acepte las solicitudes de visitas al país que han formulado, desde hace varios años, los Procedimientos especiales de las Naciones Unidas, cuyos mandatos son más relevantes para el Estado de Derecho y la crisis de derechos humanos.
La CIJ toma nota del anuncio del Gobierno de Venezuela de invitar al país al Experto independiente sobre la promoción de un orden internacional democrático y equitativo de las Naciones Unidas, Sr. Alfred de Zayas.
Este anuncio, así como él de invitar al país al Relator Especial sobre el derecho al desarrollo, resulta significativo. Por más de una década, el Gobierno venezolano ha denegado o dejado sin respuesta las solicitudes de visita al país de numerosos Expertos de las Naciones Unidas (conocidos como “Procedimientos especiales”). La última misión realizada a Venezuela por un Procedimiento especial, fue la del Relator Especial sobre la Tortura en 1996.
Sin embargo, dada la ruptura del Estado de Derecho y la gravísima situación de derechos humanos en Venezuela, se requiere urgentemente que otros Procedimientos especiales de Naciones Unidas, con un mandato relevante, realicen misiones en el país.
“En el curso de este año las ejecuciones extrajudiciales y arbitrarias, la tortura y malos tratos a detenidos, la detención arbitraria, el juzgamiento de civiles por tribunales militares y las persecuciones y ataques contra opositores, disidentes y defensores de derechos humanos se han convertido en prácticas sistemáticas y generalizadas en Venezuela”, declaró Federico Andreu-Guzmán, Representante para Suramérica de la CIJ.
“Por lo tanto, es difícil entender por qué el Gobierno de Venezuela no responde a las solicitudes formuladas desde larga data por los Procedimientos especiales con mandatos sobre estas violaciones, mientras invita de forma proactiva a otros Expertos de las Naciones Unidas”, agregó Andreu-Guzmán.
La CIJ hace, por lo tanto, un llamado al Gobierno de Venezuela a que invite a visitar el país al Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Detención Arbitraria y a los Relatores Especiales sobre ejecuciones extrajudiciales, sumarias o arbitrarias; la independencia de los magistrados y abogados; la tortura y otros tratos o penas crueles, inhumanos o degradantes; los derechos a la libertad de reunión pacífica y de asociación; la promoción y protección del derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión; y sobre la situación de los defensores de derechos humanos. Todos estos Expertos de las Naciones Unidas han solicitado visitar Venezuela desde tiempo atrás, incluso algunos desde hace varios años, sin que el Gobierno venezolano haya aceptado estas solicitudes hasta ahora.
“Los Estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas tienen, bajo la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, la obligación de cooperar con los Procedimientos especiales de derechos humanos de esta organización. Esta obligación cobra particular importancia cuando el Estado es miembro del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, como es el caso de Venezuela”, declaró Andreu-Guzmán.
Asimismo, la CIJ hace un llamado al Gobierno de Venezuela para que acepte la solicitud de visita al país que, desde el año 2004, ha reiterativamente formulado la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos.
Información complementaria
Desde hace varios años, los siguientes Procedimientos especiales del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas han solicitado visitar a Venezuela: el Relator Especial sobre ejecuciones extrajudiciales, sumarias o arbitrarias; el Relator Especial sobre la situación de los defensores de derechos humanos; el Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Detención Arbitraria; el Relator Especial sobre la independencia de los magistrados y abogados; la Relatora Especial sobre los derechos a la libertad de reunión pacífica y de asociación; la Relatora Especial sobre la violencia contra la mujer, sus causas y consecuencias; el Relator Especial sobre la tortura y otros tratos o penas crueles, inhumanos o degradantes; el Relator Especial sobre la promoción y protección del derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión; el Grupo de Trabajo sobre la cuestión de los derechos humanos y las empresas transnacionales y otras empresas; la Relatora Especial sobre una vivienda adecuada como elemento integrante del derecho a un nivel de vida adecuado; y la Relatora Especial sobre el derecho a la alimentación.
En el ámbito regional, aunque denunció la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos en septiembre de 2012, Venezuela sigue siendo Estado parte de tres tratados interamericanos de derechos humanos (La Convención Interamericana para Prevenir y Sancionar la Tortura; la Convención Interamericana sobre Desaparición Forzada de Personas; y la Convención Interamericana para Prevenir, Sancionar y Erradicar la Violencia Contra la Mujer). Sin embargo, las recomendaciones de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos han sido sistemáticamente ignoradas por el Estado venezolano, el cual además ha denegado las solicitudes de visita al país que este órgano ha formulado desde el año 2004.
Contactos
Federico Andreu-Guzmán, Representante para Suramérica de la CIJ, tel: +57 311 481 8094; correo electrónico federico.andreu@icj.org
Carlos Ayala Corao, Comisionado de la CIJ (Venezuela), tel: +57 414 243 4872; correo electrónico cayala@cjlegal.net
Alex Conte, Iniciativa Global de la CIJ sobre Reparación y Rendición de Cuentas, tel: +22 979 3802; email: alex.conte@icj.org
Sep 28, 2017 | Advocacy, Uncategorized
The ICJ today called on the UN Human Rights Committee and a group of UN Special Procedure mandates to take urgent follow up action on Venezuela in light of the grave and ever deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
In a letter to the UN Human Rights Committee, the treaty body responsible for monitoring implementation by States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the ICJ called for urgent action by the Committee, either through its established follow-up procedure and/or through requesting a special interim report. The Committee’s follow-up procedure was referenced in the Committee’s Concluding Observations on Venezuela’s fourth periodic report under the ICCPR. Special interim reports may be requested by the Committee under Article 40(1)(b) of the ICCPR.
The ICJ also called for urgent action to be taken by the following UN Special Procedure mandates: the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and of association, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. This group of Special Procedure mandates had on 4 August 2017 issued a joint statement on the human rights situation in Venezuela.
The ICJ’s letters draw attention to several critical areas of concern:
- The rapidly deteriorating human rights situation;
- The lack of accountability of perpetrators of human rights violations;
- The lack of effective remedies and reparation for victims of human rights violations;
- The lack of independence of the judiciary;
- The institutional crisis arising from decisions of the Supreme Court of Justice;
- The unconstitutional election of the new National Constituent Assembly;
- The dismissal of the former Attorney General;
- The recent establishment of a ‘Truth Commission’;
- The intended revision of Venezuela’s Constitution; and
- Venezuela’s failure to notify its state of emergency under the ICCPR.
ICJ-Correspondence-VenezuelaFollowUp-HRCttee-2017-09-28 (download letter to the Human Rights Committee, in PDF)
ICJ-Correspondence-VenezuelaFollowUp-SPs-2017-09-28 (download letter to the Special Procedure mandates, in PDF)
ICJ reports:
Venezuela: the Supreme Court of Justice has become an arm of an authoritarian executive
Venezuela: rule of law and impunity crisis deepens
Venezuela: dismissal of Attorney General a further blow to the rule of law and accountability
Venezuela: Human rights and Rule of Law in deep crisis
Strengthening the Rule of Law in Venezuela
Sep 25, 2017 | News
Guatemala’s Congress should immediately remove obstacles to investigation and accountability of President Jimmy Morales (photo) and other public officials for alleged violations of campaign finance rules and corruption, the ICJ said today.
The ICJ also called on President Morales to cease efforts to impede the effective functioning of the United Nations mandated International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
“Guatemala’s president and some members of Congress are obstructing justice by abusing their authority to avoid investigations for corruption and block the important work carried out by the Attorney General, with CICIG’s assistance,” said Sam Zarifi, ICJ’s Secretary General, just returned from a visit to the country.
“Guatemala, with CICIG’s assistance, has witnessed important progress in the fight against corruption and impunity in recent years, and Congress should be making sure that this trend continues,” he added.
The Congress voted on September 21 to reject the request by Attorney General Thelma Aldana and Ivan Velasquez, Commissioner of CICIG, to strip President Morales of Constitutional immunity he enjoys as president, in connection to allegations that his political party failed to report more than $800,000 in campaign financing.
But the Congressional vote fell short of the threshold of 105 votes needed to reach the necessary two-thirds of Congress needed to reach a final decision and thus can be reconsidered.
On September 13, Congress voted to revise the country’s criminal code by removing Secretary Generals of political parties from accountability for violations of electoral laws (instead limiting accountability to accountants) and to commute the sentences of those already convicted of a number of serious crimes, including corruption, trafficking of persons, and sexual abuse.
The legislators rescinded the vote after two days of nationwide public demonstrations and a decision of the country’s Constitutional Court to suspend the law’s application.
The Guatemalan Constitutional Court suspended the revisions in response to a writ of amparo and characterized Congress’ revisions to the criminal code as “a threat that, in case of being implemented, could cause irreparable damage to the judicial system”.
“The Constitutional Court’s speedy action avoided a massive blow to the fight for accountability in Guatemala, because if the law had gone into effect for even one hour, it would have provided a legal basis for politicians convicted on corruption charges to demand release or commutation of their sentences,” Zarifi said.
Congress’s actions followed an attempt by President Morales to expel CICIG’s Commissioner Velasquez, as persona non grata and to revise CICIG’s mandate, in an apparent bid to block investigations into his alleged wrongdoing.
“Since CICIG was formed in December 2006 at the request of the Guatemalan government, it has worked closely with the country’s Attorney General to improve accountability, and its impact has been undeniably positive,” Zarifi said.
“This is a model of international support for national accountability mechanisms that should be studied and emulated around the world; its continued operation is therefore of interest not just to Guatemala and the region but to global efforts to combat impunity,” he added.
The ICJ called on the Guatemalan government to comply with its international legal obligations as a State party to the 2004 United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the 1996 Inter-American Convention Against Corruption.
Background
Article 30(2) of the UN Convention Against Corruption calls on State Party to strike “an appropriate balance between any immunities or jurisdictional privileges accorded to its public officials for the performance of their functions and the possibility, when necessary, of effectively investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating offences established in accordance with this Convention.”
Article 30(3) demands States “to ensure that any discretionary legal powers under its domestic law relating to the prosecution of persons for offences established in accordance with this Convention are exercised to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement measures in respect of those offences and with due regard to the need to deter the commission of such offences.”
Contact:
Sam Zarifi, ICJ Secretary General, t: +41 79 726 44 15 ; e: sam.zarifi@icj.org
Sep 19, 2017 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In a statement to the UN Human Rights Council today, the ICJ called for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the situation for human rights in Venezuela, given the ongoing human rights and rule of law crisis in the country.
The statement, which was delivered during a general debate on country situations of concern, read as follows:
“In Venezuela, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, prosecution of civilians by military tribunals, and persecution and attacks against opponents, dissidents and human rights defenders have become systematic and widespread practices.
Demonstrations and protests are violently suppressed by state security bodies and groups of armed civilians close to the government.
These gross human rights violations remain subject to impunity.
The possibility of exercising fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly, as well as political rights, is non-existent.
Following a series of decisions by the Supreme Court of Justice and the Government, the rule of law has ceased to exist, there is no separation of powers, the legislative branch has been stripped of its constitutional powers and the judiciary has become an instrument of the Executive Branch.
The National Constituent Assembly has usurped functions that do not belong to it, such as legislating and dismissing officials.
The International Commission of Jurists considers that, given the very serious human rights situation and the breakdown of the rule of law, it is imperative that the Human Rights Council appoint a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Venezuela.”
ICJ reports:
Venezuela: the Supreme Court of Justice has become an arm of an authoritarian executive
Venezuela: rule of law and impunity crisis deepens
Venezuela: dismissal of Attorney General a further blow to the rule of law and accountability
Venezuela: Human rights and Rule of Law in deep crisis
Strengthening the Rule of Law in Venezuela
