The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on March 10 said the current situation in Venezuela includes “attacks on political opponents, demonstrators and journalists without preventive actions by the security forces to avoid them.”
In an oral update to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Bachelet detailed the many abuses that are still committed by the former Maduro regime.
Some of these include:
- Raids on the headquarters of a political party, nonprofit organizations and media offices.
- Harassment against university authorities.
- Deaths of children waiting for organ transplants at hospitals.
In a signed response, 55 countries reaffirmed their support for the Venezuelan people and condemned the human rights abuses.
“The human suffering in Venezuela is rooted in years of misadministration, systematic corruption and deepening authoritarianism,” said the representative from Peru on behalf of the 55 countries. “Other states did not cause the thousands of extrajudicial killings, the numerous arbitrary detentions and the widespread use of torture.”
55 countries stood up to Maduro’s flagrant violation of Venezuelans’ human rights today. The U.S. joins in denouncing the collapse of rule of law and the use of force against political opponents and civilians, and supports calls for free and fair elections https://t.co/1oPaEGmbYq
— U.S. Mission Geneva (@usmissiongeneva) March 10, 2020
While the U.N. council convened in Geneva, thousands across Venezuela turned out to support democracy and interim President Juan Guaidó.
Even though the pro-Maduro military used tanks and fired tear gas into the crowds assembled in Caracas, Venezuelans continued to stand up for free and fair elections and an end to their suffering.
“Venezuelans will exercise our rights in the streets,” Guaidó said March 9 at a news conference before the protest. “The only option available for Venezuelans is to escape this disaster.”
