The Working Group on the UPR met on 7 October 2011 to review the human rights situation in Venezuela. The Venezuelan delegation was relatively large, comprising 11 members (three women) and including the Minister for Internal Relations, the Minister for Indigenous Peoples, the President of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, various vice ministers, and the head of the delegation Mr Nicolas Maduro Moros, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The delegation began its report somewhat aggressively, speaking of the ‘historical struggle’ against repression under the previous colonial regime and
The Working Group on the UPR met on 7 October 2011 to review the human rights situation in Venezuela. The Venezuelan delegation was relatively large, comprising 11 members (three women) and including the Minister for Internal Relations, the Minister for Indigenous Peoples, the President of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, various vice ministers, and the head of the delegation Mr Nicolas Maduro Moros, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The delegation began its report somewhat aggressively, speaking of the ‘historical struggle’ against repression under the previous colonial regime and referring to a ‘colonialist genocide’. The discrimination and inequality under this regime were used to contrast with the current Government’s policies which focus on reducing these inequalities. Mr Moros stated the current Government’s view that human rights are ‘universal and indivisible’, and that the country’s Constitution set the foundation for participatory democracy and the rule of law.
The delegation stated that its report was the result of wide and open consultation with community groups and NGOs, involving 75 consultation meetings and the creation of a webpage. It set out Venezuela’s achievements in the field of human rights, including a significant reduction in extreme poverty in the country, the creation of a health plan providing access to free public health centres for 80% of the population, accession to the UN Convention Against Torture, the Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the introduction of policies to safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples.
There were a large number of States scheduled to speak, however due to time constraints only 50 were able to do so. The main comments, questions and recommendations offered by States were as follows:
Venezuela responded four times during the interactive dialogue; with statements from several high office holders in the delegation. Although responses were structured and prepared, they were often not particularly detailed, only citing a few specific examples of measures taken to promote human rights. The delegation disputed the ‘defamatory claims’ by States that freedom of expression is restricted in Venezuela; and explained the selection process for judges in response to claims of executive influence in the judiciary. Examples of measures to improve human rights in prisons were provided, including the submission of a draft code on prison reform to Parliament and the provision of training for prison wardens. The delegation also highlighted its high matriculation rate in higher education, and its status as the State with the lowest index of inequality in Latin America. At the end of the dialogue, the Minister for Indigenous Peoples, a member of one of Venezuela’s indigenous communities, made a short statement about the previous repression of indigenous people, and current measures to return some indigenous lands and translate official texts into indigenous languages.
Of 148 recommendations, Venezuela accepted 95 (75 of which were said to be already implemented), postponed a decision on 15 until the 19th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2012, and rejected 38. In its closing comments the delegation attacked the recommendations of some States as insults to Venezuela made by colonial powers who finance terrorism; and reiterated its commitment to human rights.
[1] Judge Afiuni has been arbitrarily detained since 2009 (first in a violent women’s prison and now under house arrest) after ruling on the release of a prisoner deemed to be arbitrarily detained, in line with a recommendation from the Working Group on arbitrary detention. President Hugo Chavez has called for a 30-year sentence on charges of corruption, and she is set to be tried before a judge who is an open supporter of the President. This has led to particular concern about the issue of reprisals against human rights defenders cooperating with the UN human rights mechanisms: /node/311