GENEVA (18 February 2021) – UN human rights experts today welcomed the release from detention of five human rights defenders and members of NGO Azul Positivo but urged Venezuelan authorities to stop the continuous and increasing attacks and intimidation against civil society organisations and journalists.
The five human rights defenders and members of Azul Positivo, who had been detained in Zulia state on 12 January 2021, were released on 10 February but the charges they faced, relating to terrorism, terrorism financing and money laundering, have not been dropped.
“The arrests and criminal charges are part of a pattern of increasing criminalisation of civil society organisations in Venezuela, which already operate under a repressive set of laws and regulations including the 2017 ‘Law Against Hate’ that restricts the exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, among others,” the experts said.
Venezuela: Human rights defenders released but charges remain; criminalisation of civil society must stop
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GENEVA (18 February 2021) – UN human rights experts today welcomed the release from detention of five human rights defenders and members of NGO Azul Positivo but urged Venezuelan authorities to stop the continuous and increasing attacks and intimidation against civil society organisations and journalists.
The five human rights defenders and members of Azul Positivo, who had been detained in Zulia state on 12 January 2021, were released on 10 February but the charges they faced, relating to terrorism, terrorism financing and money laundering, have not been dropped.
“The arrests and criminal charges are part of a pattern of increasing criminalisation of civil society organisations in Venezuela, which already operate under a repressive set of laws and regulations including the 2017 ‘Law Against Hate’ that restricts the exercise of their right to freedom of peacef
GENEVA (18 December 2020) – UN human rights experts today urged Venezuela to end its crackdown on civil society organisations.
“Since November 2020 Venezuela has systematically stigmatized and persecuted civil society organisations, dissenting voices and human rights defenders, and this must stop” the experts said.
“Given the worrying socio-economic situation the country has been in, worsened during the pandemic, national and international civil society organisations are more than ever essential in ensuring human rights compliant access to basic needs and services,” they said. “Their role in protecting human rights and assisting vulnerable populations must be protected, not undermined.” They called on members of the new National Assembly elected last week to pass legislation to protect NGOs and human rights defenders in line with international human rights obligations that Venezuela has assumed.
UN Experts: Venezuela must stop attacks against civil society
Format
GENEVA (18 December 2020) – UN human rights experts today urged Venezuela to end its crackdown on civil society organisations.
“Since November 2020 Venezuela has systematically stigmatized and persecuted civil society organisations, dissenting voices and human rights defenders, and this must stop” the experts said.
“Given the worrying socio-economic situation the country has been in, worsened during the pandemic, national and international civil society organisations are more than ever essential in ensuring human rights compliant access to basic needs and services,” they said. “Their role in protecting human rights and assisting vulnerable populations must be protected, not undermined.”