38 Yukpa indigenous leaders and their relatives (20 men, 13 women, 15 boys and five girls)

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2023-120-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2023
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 6.42375

Longitude: -66.58973

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Venezuela
From Region
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Gender
Gender unclear
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
Yes
Individual's/organization's activity

Indigenous leaders and their relatives

Type of rights defended
  • Indigenous peoples’ rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal
  1. On the evening of 7 March 2023, at “El 104” checkpoint in Rosario del Perijá Municipality, Zulia State, members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana reportedly stopped a delegation of approximately 38 Yukpa indigenous leaders and their relatives (20 men, 13 women, 15 boys and five girls) traveling to Caracas to meet with OHCHR, among other interlocutors. A high-ranking public official reportedly obstructed their trip to the capital by stating they did not have the right to meet with OHCHR. That evening, members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana were reportedly deployed in the location causing fear among the delegation that they would be arrested, and they decided to return to Machiques that night.
Engagement with UN body
  • OHCHR: OHCHR Field office
Dates of engagement
7 march 2023
Type of attempted engagement
  • Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials
Dates of mentioned reprisals
7 March 2023
Location of mentioned reprisals
checkpoint in Rosario del Perijá Municipality, Zulia State,
Reprisal information
  1. On the evening of 7 March 2023, at “El 104” checkpoint in Rosario del Perijá Municipality, Zulia State, members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana reportedly stopped a delegation of approximately 38 Yukpa indigenous leaders and their relatives (20 men, 13 women, 15 boys and five girls) traveling to Caracas to meet with OHCHR, among other interlocutors. A high-ranking public official reportedly obstructed their trip to the capital by stating they did not have the right to meet with OHCHR. That evening, members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana were reportedly deployed in the location causing fear among the delegation that they would be arrested, and they decided to return to Machiques that night.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Access denied to UN expert/representative
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
Yes
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
Yes