The ICJ and IBAHRI today stressed the urgent need for accountability for gross human rights violations in Venezuela before the UN Human Rights Council.
The statement reads as follows:
“Madam President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the International Bar Association Human Rights’ Institute (IBAHRI) welcome the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) and stress the urgent need for accountability for gross human rights violations in Venezuela.
We condemn the lack of cooperation of Venezuelan authorities with the FFM and recall that Venezuela, – a member of this Human Rights Council- is duty bound to fully cooperate with it. We are equally concerned that the FFM reports “significant delays in recruiting staff members” that “impeded its capacity to carry out in depth investigations” into other violations that are crucial for accountability.
We reiterate the urgent need for independent, thorough and prompt investigations and prosecutions for the gross human rights violations committed in the country. These should also examine the role played by judges and prosecutors, controlled or unduly influenced by the political authorities, in connection with those violations.
We condemn the lasting undue interference of the executive and legislature on the judiciary, reflected in the arbitrary appointment and removal of judges of the Supreme Court and the pressures over judges in general, violating the principle of judicial independence.
Madam Chair and members of the FFM, could you elaborate on the negative effects on human rights of the lack of judicial independence in Venezuela, including in particular the persecution and prosecution of judge Afiuni?
I thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949