A/HRC/57/60
situation of his son, Lieutenant Franklin Caldera Ortiz. Mr. Caldera Cordero is the
Coordinator of the Victims’ Committee “S.O.S. Libertad Family”, an organization he
founded after the arrest of his son for allegedly participating in an attack on a military base
in what was known as Operation Aurora (A/HRC/54/CRP.8, Case 28, paras. 835–845).
114. Following the publication of the Fact-Finding Mission reports in 2021 and 2022,
Mr. Caldera Cordero has reportedly been under physical surveillance and received
anonymous threatening calls, including death threats against him and his family. Similar
threats also took place after his participation in a meeting with the High Commissioner for
Human Rights in January 2023 and following his statement at the Human Rights Council in
March 2023 (A/HRC/54/CRP.8, Case 28, paras. 835–845).
115. The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights issued precautionary measures in
favour of Mr. Caldera Cordero in July 2023 noting threats against him and his relatives
because of his public statements, engagement, and advocacy with United Nations
representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.
116. On 10 October 2023, during the consideration of the fifth periodic report of
Venezuela, experts of the Human Rights Committee noted that they had received reports that
human rights defenders who had travelled to Geneva to participate in the review had been
interrogated by the National Intelligence Service. The experts recalled that States parties
should not engage in reprisals against civil society representatives who cooperated with the
human rights treaty bodies and reminded the State party of its obligation to protect the
freedom and safety of those individuals once they had returned home (CCPR/C/SR.4040,
para. 13).
117. 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.
118. 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.
19.
Yemen
119. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented the continued imposition of
restrictions by the Houthis (who called themselves Ansar Allah), on the United Nations
operations including humanitarian, human rights and development activities and engagement
with civil society actors.45 On 21 August 2023, the Security and Intelligence Service of the
Houthis in Amanat Al-Asimah suspended an event that OHCHR’s Country Office of the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Yemen was planning to implement
with civil society organizations, hindering civil society’s engagement with the United
Nations.
45
34
A/HRC/51/47 Annex I, paras. 86–87, A/HRC/54/61 para. 127.
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