2024-07-31 07:09:00
Within the framework of the protests in the post-election region in Venezuela and in the face of the unjust use of force documented by the Venezuelan security forcessignatory organizations demand rrespect and guarantee the right to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful protest. We call on the authorities to avoid criminal attacks and to fully comply with international standards and regulations on the use of force.
Protests in Venezuela took place in a region after the presidential elections held last Sunday, July 28, 2024 and whose transparency has been widely questioned by the international community.
The Carter Center, one of the two international technical observation missions invited and approved by the National Electoral Commission of Venezuela itself, declare that “the 2024 presidential election in Venezuela does not meet international standards of suffrage and cannot be considered democratic.”
State authorities and civil defense forces must respect the right to protest, the protection of which is an essential element in democracies and a historic instrument for the vindication of rights. It is also a way for citizens to participate in matters of public interest. Likewise, the authorities must refrain from using speech that encourages and incites violence against people exercising their legal right to participate in peaceful demonstrations, and avoid stigmatization to the organizations that live in society.
After the elections and until the publication of this information, national organizations have registered at least 11 people died and know them the use of lethal weapons by armed persons related to security forces and possible public forces. The signatory parties condemn the use of this weapon and remember that under no circumstances can lethal force be used to control demonstrations. According to international law, the violation of the right to life in the form of the use of force by the State will be arbitrary and, in some cases, extrajudicial killing. These facts must be investigated promptly, independently and impartially and with due diligence.
Therefore, the pre-election situation and the post-election situation in Venezuela have been marked by repression and many violations of human rights, with a special example of mandated for political reasons, wrongful deaths, restrictions on press freedom and internet shutdowns. We are serious about hundreds of arbitrary arrests after July 28documented by national organizations, who continue to receive information on new events and make this document work in the highest impact situation.
Moreover, we are surprised even by the crime of publicity and in particular, the statements of Attorney General Tarek William Saab who told the press that more than 749 people have been arrested in connection with the protests. They are called “moral” and are being will impute crimes such as public incitement, obstruction of public roads, incitement to hatred, resistance to authority and, in the most serious cases, terrorism. In addition, they will be sentenced to prison.
We remember that the State of Venezuela is obliged, according to article 68 of the constitution and international law, to respect and protect, without any discrimination, the rights of all protesters, as well as observers, observers and journalists. The use of force is a violation of this obligation if you do not comply with them international standards including principles of law, necessity, moderation, caution, non-discrimination and accountability. The authorities in Venezuela have the obligation to de-escalate the conflict, use non-violent means, use force in a continuous and different way, and respect the rights to political participation through formal elections.
If you consider the internet outings recorded in the electoral context, we remember that internet access is closely related to the right to protest as it allows you to report abuses, communicate in real time and organize peacefully. Internet blocks affect freedom of expression and access to information, important for democracy and pluralism. Restrictions on internet access during protest situations are often used as a means of repression and control to limit the population’s ability to mobilize and exercise their rights freely inside and outside the digital space.
It is important that everyone can exercise their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association without fear for their physical integrity and life. Furthermore, the Venezuelan authorities must guarantee that no one is prosecuted or deprived of freedom for the peaceful exercise of their rights.
Finally, we called The international community to demand respect for the civil and political rights of the people in Venezuela. We also call on the international justice systems to be sensitive to serious human rights violations in the context of the protests that have taken place since July 28 and to include the document of the international crimes stated in the international justice processes of ongoing as the UN Truth-Finding Mission or the International Criminal Court.
Organizational signature
- Amnesty International
- Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
- CIVICUS
- International Commission of Jurists
- Freedom house
- Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect
- Washington Office on Latin American Affairs (WOLA)
- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
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