Today, within the framework of the 45th period of sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the member States approved with 22 votes in favor, a resolution condemning the violations and transgressions of international human rights law in Venezuela set forth in the reports presented by the OHCHR and the Fact-Finding Mission.
By CCN – Centro de Comunicación Nacional
Oct 6, 2020
The resolution requests the High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, to continue to monitor the situation of human rights in Venezuela by presenting updated oral reports to the Council at its forty-sixth and forty-ninth sessions, and by preparing comprehensive written reports that include a detailed assessment of the implementation of the recommendations of her previous reports and of the present reports.
The resolution also expresses the importance of giving the High Commissioner immediate, full and unrestricted access to all members of the mission throughout the country, including to victims and places of detention, and the member States approved with 22 votes in favor, a resolution condemning the violations and transgressions of international human rights lawat they be provided with all information necessary to carry out their mandates and to ensure that all persons have unhindered access to and can communicate with the United Nations and other human rights entities without fear of reprisal, intimidation or attack.
With regard to the Fact-Finding Mission, the resolution decides to extend the mandate of the Mission for a period of two years, so that it may continue to investigate gross violations of human rights: extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence. The Mission is also requested to provide oral updates at the forty-sixth and forty-ninth sessions and to prepare written reports on its findings for the forty-eighth and fifty-first sessions.
The United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Miguel Pizarro, assured that the adoption of this resolution extending the mandates of the OHCHR and the Fact-Finding Mission represents an important message that implies understanding of what is happening in Venezuela: “59 countries sponsored this resolution and expressed their concern about the human rights situation in Venezuela. This resolution transcends political and ideological differences and extends a mandate that allows for a follow-up and a more in-depth investigation of the crimes committed and that continue to occur in our country”.
“This resolution allows us to take one more step in the right direction to achieve justice. To demonstrate that the victims have been right in all their denunciations and to emphasize that the reporting of the facts is worthwhile in this path. Likewise, this mandate represents the great work of NGOs, human rights defenders, victims and relatives to raise their voices against impunity and to continue working for justice and freedom” said the Commissioner.
Pizarro concluded by thanking the coalition of countries that made this possible: “Our thanks and recognition for reaffirming your commitment to the defense and protection of Human Rights in Venezuela”.
Resolution A/HRC/45/L.43/Rev.1 on the situation of human rights in Venezuela, presented under item 4 concerning “Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention”, was proposed by a coalition of sponsor countries comprising Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Japan, Marshall Islands, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Read More: CCN – Centro de Comunicación Nacional – Commissioner Pizarro: “Today a resolution was approved that allows us to take another step in the right direction to achieve justice”
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