Member organizations of Foro por la Vida, together with other Venezuelan organizations, in light of serious violations of human rights in Venezuela.
We, the undersigned organizations, given the worsening of the
Venezuelan situation resulting from violence, misinformation, arbitrary
detentions and other major violations of human rights that have occurred
in the month of February 2014 make a call for urgent action in support
of the observance of human rights, justice and peace in Venezuela.
The events taking place in Venezuela showcase the deterioration of
public institutions to effectively arbitrate the diversity of political
positions that exist in the country. In light of this situation it is
important that various sectors of the national and international
community take a stand to challenge human rights violations, calling for
an independent investigation, requesting the cessation of repression
and the opening of genuine dialogue.
Criminalization of protests
Students and other social sectors of Venezuelan society have convened
and conducted peaceful demonstrations throughout the month of February.
Systematically, high-ranking public officials have disqualified these
mobilizations and demonized sectors participating in them.
Disqualifying speeches are frequently featured in the National System
of Public Media or through mandatory radio and television broadcasts.
Acts of vandalism and street closures that have involved a minority of
protesters —rejected by the organizers and broad sectors of Venezuelan
society— are overexposed in such broadcasts. Thus, because some
participants incur in violent acts, all participants and organizers of
peaceful demonstrations have been disqualified as violent, as a
justification for the authorities to widespread repressive responses.
