IACHR and RELE warn about political persecution in Venezuela in the electoral context

July 19, 2024

Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE) alert the regional and international community about political persecution in Venezuela and urge the State to end the repression and ensure a free, competitive, and participatory presidential election.

On July 17, the President and commander-in-chief of the National Armed Forces, Nicolás Maduro, made public statements suggesting that if he did not win re-election, the country could "fall into a bloodbath, into a civil war." Such statements from the highest authority of the State and the security forces have the effect of intimidating and restricting the political freedom of the electorate. These statements also cast doubt on the potential transfer of power should the opposition win.

In this context of political persecution, in 2024, there have been documented attacks on opposition leaders, arbitrary arrests of activists, journalists and opposition campaign members (including the Rocío San Miguel and security chief of María Corina Machado), media and business closures, harassment of campaign committees and supporters (including business owners), and administrative disqualifications of candidates for elected positions.

These events undermine democratic institutions and the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, discourage political participation from opposition members, their electorate, and citizens in general.

As the presidential elections approach, the guarantees for exercising civil and political rights are being rolled back or are not being complied with. The IACHR and RELE reiterate that these attacks, coupled with the lack of independent and impartial institutions, form a pattern by the government to perpetuate itself in power through arbitrariness, human rights violations, and lack of accountability.

The IACHR and RELE urge the State to adopt urgent measures to restore the separation and independence of public powers. They also call on the regional and international community to continue closely monitoring the presidential election and to encourage the Venezuelan government to ensure it is conducted with full respect for the civil and political rights of the population.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE) was created by the IACHR to promote the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its fundamental role in consolidating and developing the democratic system.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate comes from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission is tasked with promoting the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR comprises seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 166/24

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