The Independent International Mission on Venezuela* reported this Thursday to have documented 16 arrests or captures of human rights defenders and political leadersopponents and their families in the last two days in several states of that country.
These arrests, the Mission stated in a statement, “represent yet another attack on the rights and freedoms of the Venezuelan people.”
The arrests took place on the eve of the demonstrations announced by the opposition for today on the occasion of the presidential inauguration scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, January 10.
“We reiterate that all of these acts violating human rights and crimes may entail individual criminal responsibility, according to international law, of the people who carry them out, as well as those who order or authorize them,” noted the members of the Mission.
General fear
According to the group of experts, these arrests instill widespread fear in the population, preventing many people from expressing themselves freely or from carrying out their legitimate work in defense of human rights.
The Mission claimed that be disclosed without delay the whereabouts of the detainees and that they are protected and protected according to the law.
Likewise, he requested that be released immediately and unconditionally to all people arbitrarily detained.
It’s time to relieve tensions
In the same vein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed great concern about reports of arbitrary detentions and intimidation.
Volker Turk He specifically cited the arrest of human rights defender Carlos Correa and members of the opposition and their families.
“This is the time to work to ease tensions and reduce the risk of further violence. Dialogue is essential“Türk pointed out in his X account.
The High Commissioner recalled that free expression and freedom of peaceful assembly are the rights of all people.
The UN special rapporteur on freedom of assembly joined Türk, stressing that all people have right to demonstrate without fear of reprisals.
Gina Romero added that respect for this right is essential for guarantee citizen participation and strengthen democratic dialogue.
In a tweet, Romero said that security forces must respect the international proportionality standardsand stressed that the use of force must be exceptional and avoid any measure that limits the exercise of human rights.
Respect human rights laws
Reports of arbitrary arrests and persecutions also deeply concern the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres.
Guterres’ spokesman, Stefan Dujarric, yesterday read a statement in which the head of the UN called for “respect for the international rules and norms of human rights” in Venezuela, emphasizing that no one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest or imprisonment.
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interferenceas well as the right to peaceful assembly, Dujarric noted at the daily press conference at UN headquarters.
* In September 2019, the Human Rights Council The United Nations established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for one year to evaluate alleged human rights violations committed since 2014. The Mission presented its latest annual report during an interactive Council dialogue in September 2024, accompanied by a conference room paper with its detailed conclusions. In your resolution 57/36 The Council extended the mandate of the International Mission for two more years, until October 2026.
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