The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounced that the impact of the illegal unilateral coercive measures against the Human Rights of the Venezuelan people has been ignored in the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
This was announced by the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN, Hector Constant Rosales, who through his Twitter account reiterated that although the positive advances included in the UN Human Rights report on Venezuela are welcomed, the true addressing the consequences that coercive measures have had against the population.
Constant stressed the displeasure that the report delivered by the United Nations Human Rights Office, led by High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, causes for the Venezuelan people.
He also emphasized “sanctions are deadly.”
The High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, acknowledges in her report that Venezuela has made progress in terms of Human Rights and reiterates her interest in continuing to support the Venezuelan Government and people.
Below is the full text of the statement, issued by the Foreign Ministry, by Ambassador Hector Constant to the UN:
On behalf of the Venezuelan People and the Government of President Nicolás Maduro, we greet the High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, expressing our appreciation for her work at the head of the Office and wishing her the greatest success in her future projects.
We take note of this recent report, mandated by a resolution adopted by vote despite the obvious signs of selectivity and politicization that we opposed at the time and still oppose. We have rejected, out of principle, the promotion of hostile initiatives like this one, far removed from a genuine promotion and protection of human rights.
We welcome the recognition in this latest report of Venezuela’s efforts and progress in the human rights system, and in particular in the administration of justice, although we continue to recognize a painful discursive matrix in its content, which seeks to confuse the reader with a serious imbalance in the treatment of the situations it deals with, which we unfortunately once again confirm in its oral presentation. The imposition of illegal unilateral coercive measures, for example, is rarely addressed, dismissing the terrible impact they have had on all the rights of the Venezuelan people. We regret that in your oral presentation you are not moved by the Venezuelan children who have stopped receiving medical treatment because of these illegal measures imposed in a hegemonic manner.
Madam High Commissioner,
We also take note of the concerns expressed in the report, reiterating the full willingness of the Bolivarian Government to continue providing sufficient and objective information on the questions that still persist. In recent years we have shown the most transparent and constructive spirit of cooperation with your Office, as it has begun to be understood that mutual respect is an essential basis for our exchanges.
However, we must firmly insist that the human rights situation in Venezuela cannot be minimally analyzed without referring to the terrible consequences that the illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States Government and its allies, violating international law. What you call in some cases “sectoral sanctions” in your report are really crimes against humanity that must be addressed and punished as such.
As we have repeatedly denounced, Venezuela has been the target of more than 500 of these illegal measures and other criminal provisions, unsuccessfully aimed at destroying the economy and destabilizing our democracy. Certainly, we have suffered serious damage that will take time to repair. But thanks to the awareness of Venezuelans and their joint effort with the National Government, more than 77% of the budget continues to be allocated to investment in protection and social security and our economy will continue to grow this year.
Dear High Commissioner: Your Office must be a key player in condemning and firmly demanding a definitive end to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that undermine human rights, international law and the right to development of the peoples of the South. We cannot continue with euphemisms, we must say it loud and clear: unilateral coercive measures are deadly and violate the human rights of the peoples who suffer them.
Mr. president,
As recognized in the recently presented report, Venezuela has strengthened the presence of the Office in the country and expanded the areas of cooperation. We have managed to establish a generally harmonious and respectful relationship, which has led, for example, to welcome technical advice on sensitive areas of our legislative agenda.
Likewise, it has continued on the right path to fight against impunity and strengthen the justice system, in a regulatory framework that is becoming increasingly solid and that recognizes its free, democratic, sovereign and independent vocation. We are surprised to have heard your concern today about alleged restrictions to the democratic space in a Venezuela that has had twenty-nine (29) elections in the last twenty-three years, with broad political participation, as demonstrated by numerous electoral oversight reports that are available to anyone who wants to consult them.
We will continue to advance along the path of comprehensive protection of the fundamental rights of our people, for which we reiterate our willingness to continue cooperating with this Council, its mechanisms and with the Office of the High Commissioner, based on the guiding principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
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