Peace laboratory denounced on Monday practices of Forced enlistment in the official campaign “I get ready”driven by the government of Nicolás Maduro.
The organization documented cases in which they forced citizens – including adolescents and public employees – to register and record videos in support of the military initiative.
The campaign was held on August 23 and 24 during the “Great National Elderness Day”, with the aim of activating more than 4.5 million militiamen within the framework of the Civil-Military Integral Defense Model.
Nicolás Maduro He assured that more than 8 million Venezuelans participated in the process. However, Peace Laboratory warned that these figures hide practices that violate fundamental rights.
Venezuelan Constitution prohibits forced recruitment
The organization He recalled that article 134 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela prohibits forced recruitment and that article 61 guarantees freedom of consciousness.
He also stressed that the right to conscientious objection against military service is enshrined in article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Venezuela and supported by the UN Human Rights Committee.
Paz Laboratory denounced that current regulations do not recognize this right, which forces young people and workers to choose between violating their convictions or facing legal, administrative and social sanctions. The organization also indicated that Public Employees Pressures To enlist or record propaganda videos they violate their rights of consciousness, association and expression, and reinforce a climate of intimidation in the public sector.
Given this situation, Peace Laboratory demanded:
• Immediately suspend the practices of forced enlistment.
• Ensure that no fundamental right – as education, work, identity or mobility – depends on the campaign “I get ready”.
• Comply with international human rights standards established by the UN Human Rights Committee and the Inter -American System.
Finally, the organization invited affected people to send their complaints privately to email [email protected].
