In the course of 2021, government policy against human rights organizations has intensified, with some 743 attacks registered by the Center for Defenders and Justice. Among the most attacked NGOs are Foro Penal, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, Public Space, Citizen Control, Transparency Venezuela, FundaRedes, Access to Justice and A World without a Gag
The Center for Defenders and Justice (CDJ), an NGO dedicated to the protection of human rights, registered a total of 1,654 “attacks and security incidents” against organizations and individuals that demanded or promoted human rights.
This data was included in a report published by the NGO entitled ‘Situation of human rights defenders in Venezuela’, which shows an increase in the intensity and frequency of attacks in the last three years, with 2021 being the one that presented the most situations of this type.
According to the CDJ count, only in 2021 there were 743 attacks, which represents 45% of the total cases.
“The year 2021 was characterized by the increase in acts of violence against those who defend, demand and promote human rights, with the increase in the use of criminal law to criminalize and persecute,” the publication details.
One factor that increased the attacks during 2021 was the introduction of Administrative Ruling ONCDOFT-002-2021, a document that obliges NGOs to register in a system monitored by the Government through the National Office against Organized Crime and Financing to the terrorism.
The report also divided the attacks based on their characteristics. The most common modality was stigmatization, with 1,112 situations of this type. It was followed by acts of intimidation and harassment (301), threats (101), arbitrary arrests (37), digital attacks (35), prosecution (22), raids (18) and the remainder (28) included in the category of “other ».
In addition, the document details which are the actors most affected by this policy against the defense and promotion of human rights. The following appear as attacked organisms:
Organization focused on the defense of political prisoners, victims of torture, arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances. “The attacks, threats and harassment against them have been sustained over time, and are usually accompanied by expressions of discredit of the information and the complaint they present,” the report expands.
- Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict (OVCS)
This NGO monitors the protests that take place in the country. “He has been the object of a systematic campaign of stigmatization with questions about his work and accusations about the veracity of his reports, they have also received digital attacks, threats and intimidation,” denounces CDJ.
This organization defends the right to freedom of expression, information and the press. “They have been victims of constant stigmatization and the accusations against them increase in times of protests, when they denounce attacks on journalists, violations of freedom of expression,” they explain.
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It focuses on offering information to the population about the military area and national security, due to the little transparency offered by the Government. “She is constantly accused of receiving financing from political parties to generate actions and reports in favor of the political opposition,” he points out.
It focuses on information dissemination work around acts of corruption and opacity within the Government. “For the participation of the organization in international spaces and the publication of reports that
denounce corruption in Venezuela, this organization has been the target of digital attacks and reprisals for cooperating with international organizations,” he says.
It specializes in monitoring the events of the Venezuelan border and the participation of irregular armed groups in the area. “They have faced stigmatization, threats, raids, arbitrary detentions, and forced disappearances of members and collaborators of the organization,” the document highlights.
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They carry out a work of legal analysis and explanation of the laws to the population, denouncing the violations of the legal framework committed by the Venezuelan institutions. “The events against the organization have consisted of digital attacks, particularly the blocking of its website and the restriction of its institutional account on the social network Twitter, as well as stigmatization of its directors in the media.
communication,” complaint.
This NGO defends the right to peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression. “She has been accused of generating and encouraging acts of violence, as well as being linked to acts of corruption,” she says.
Regarding the people most affected, the report highlights names such as Marino Alvarao (Provea), Marco Antonio Ponce (OVCS), Alfredo Romero (Criminal Forum), Carlos Correa (Public Space), Mercedes De Freitas (Transparencia Venezuela), Humberto Prado (Venezuelan Prison Observatory), Rocío San Miguel (Citizen Control), Rafael Uzcátegui (Provea), Carlos Nieto Palma (A Window to Freedom) and Javier Tarazona (FundaRedes).
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