General situation addressed

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2024-117-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2024
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 6.42375

Longitude: -66.58973

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Venezuela
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN (Dep.) High Commissioner on Human Rights
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Independent Investigation
Dates of prior UN action
2023
Individual's/organization's activity
  1. During the reporting period, the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted continued restrictions on civic space, including restrictive laws that limit the work of civil society and reports that those expressing dissent were subjected to arbitrary judicial and administrative procedures, as well as stigmatization. In its 2023 report, the Fact-Finding Mission noted that its investigations continue to be limited by individuals’ fear of cooperating with the Mission. A large number of people interviewed by the Mission, including victims and family members, requested anonymity for fear of reprisals (A/HRC/54/CRP.8, para. 37). On 15 February 2024, the Government suspended the activities of OHCHR in the country, pending review.
  2. According to information received by OHCHR, this environment intensified the fear of reprisals amongst those expressing dissenting views or perceived as critical of the Government, thus inhibiting their cooperation and engagement with the United Nations in the field of human rights. Following the decision of the Government to suspend OHCHR’s activities in the country in February 2024, human rights defenders and civil society organizations reportedly had to restrict their human rights activities. They reportedly suspend travel plans abroad, including advocacy trips to engage with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, and several human rights defenders who had travelled abroad deemed that it was not safe to go back to Venezuela, noting the suspension of the work of OHCHR in-country as one of the factors deterring their return. Names and details of those concerned have been withheld for fear of reprisals
Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

cooperating with the Mission. A large number of people interviewed by the Mission, including victims and family members, requested anonymity for fear of reprisals (A/HRC/54/CRP.8, para. 37).

fear of reprisals amongst those expressing dissenting views or perceived as critical of the Government, thus inhibiting their cooperation and engagement with the United Nations in the field of human rights. Following the decision of the Government to suspend OHCHR’s activities in the country in February 2024, human rights defenders and civil society organizations reportedly had to restrict their human rights activities. They reportedly suspend travel plans abroad, including advocacy trips to engage with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, and several human rights defenders who had travelled abroad deemed that it was not safe to go back to Venezuela, noting the suspension of the work of OHCHR in-country as one of the factors deterring their return. Names and details of those concerned have been withheld for fear of reprisals

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Independent Investigation
  • Unclear
Type of attempted engagement
  • Participation in meeting on UN premises
  • Unclear
Location of mentioned reprisals
Venezuela
Reprisal information
  1. During the reporting period, the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted continued restrictions on civic space, including restrictive laws that limit the work of civil society and reports that those expressing dissent were subjected to arbitrary judicial and administrative procedures, as well as stigmatization. In its 2023 report, the Fact-Finding Mission noted that its investigations continue to be limited by individuals’ fear of cooperating with the Mission. A large number of people interviewed by the Mission, including victims and family members, requested anonymity for fear of reprisals (A/HRC/54/CRP.8, para. 37). On 15 February 2024, the Government suspended the activities of OHCHR in the country, pending review.
  2. According to information received by OHCHR, this environment intensified the fear of reprisals amongst those expressing dissenting views or perceived as critical of the Government, thus inhibiting their cooperation and engagement with the United Nations in the field of human rights. Following the decision of the Government to suspend OHCHR’s activities in the country in February 2024, human rights defenders and civil society organizations reportedly had to restrict their human rights activities. They reportedly suspend travel plans abroad, including advocacy trips to engage with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, and several human rights defenders who had travelled abroad deemed that it was not safe to go back to Venezuela, noting the suspension of the work of OHCHR in-country as one of the factors deterring their return. Names and details of those concerned have been withheld for fear of reprisals
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Administrative reprisal
  • Defamation / Defamation campaign
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
Yes
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