Douglas Gonzalez

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2023-117-001
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
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

trade unionist

Type of rights defended
  • Economic/social rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

planned travel to Caracas to meet with the High Commissioner.

Engagement with UN body
  • UN (Dep.) High Commissioner on Human Rights
Dates of engagement
January 2023
Type of attempted engagement
  • Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials
Dates of mentioned reprisals
January 2023
Location of mentioned reprisals
Venezuela
Reprisal information
  1. From 26 to 28 January 2023, the High Commissioner of Human Rights visited Venezuela and met with over 125 members of civil society, human rights defenders, victims of human rights violations and representatives of victims’ organizations.88 According to information received by OHCHR, State actors intimidated two men trade unionists and a woman human rights defender following their meetings, or attempts to meet, with the High Commissioner during his visit.
  2. Specifically, on 26 January 2023, members of the Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM) threatened Mr. Douglas Gonzalez, a trade unionist, that his non-custodial measures, linked to his participation in protests in 2018, would be revoked should he travel to Caracas to meet with the High Commissioner. As a result, he decided not to travel. On 8 February 2023, a second male trade unionist received information that a state- run company had opened an inquiry to bring charges against him in connection with the complaints he had raised with the High Commissioner. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
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?
No