RESOURCES FOR RESEARCHING COUNTRY CONDITIONS



 


 

Venezuela Human Rights Profile

 

I.         Overview of Human Rights in Venezuela (December 2015)

            The constitution and many domestic laws of Venezuela protect the human rights of Venezuelan citizens. However, in practice, the Venezuelan government has been actively involved or complicit in the violation of the human rights of its citizens throughout the country. Since the suspicious election of President Nicolas Maduro in 2013, and the anti-government protests which ensued from February to June 2014, the human rights situation in Venezuela has deteriorated. Reports of NGOs and government organizations alike describe widespread torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment perpetrated by government officials; arbitrary arrests and detention of political protestors and opposition figures; extra-judicial killings; the violation of due process rights; the use of excessive force by state security personnel; the infringement of the freedom of expression, assembly, speech and press; election fraud; intimidation of human rights defenders; gender violence and poor prison conditions throughout the country. Further, since Venezuela’s denunciation of the American Convention on Human Rights in September 2012, and its entry into force on September 10, 2013, Venezuelan citizens no longer have access to the Inter-America Court of Human Rights for human rights relief.[1] Instead, Venezuelans are left to petition their domestic courts, which for years have reportedly lacked independence and been closely tied to the whims of their government.

            A.        Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment

 

            The constitution of Venezuela prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.[2] Venezuelan domestic legislation also strengthens this prohibition.[3] However, the Committee against Torture has found that the Venezuelan Anti-Torture Act (2013)[4] is problematic as it “does not categorize as torture any pain or suffering inflicted at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or by another person acting in an official capacity.”[5] Accordingly, the Committee has found, the Act is not in conformity with article 1 of the Convention against Torture. [6] The Committee also observed how the Commission for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, set up by the 2013 Anti-Torture Act to help prevent the commission of torture by Venezuelan law enforcement personnel, lacks independence as “6 of the 13 members . . .are affiliated with the executive branch.”[7] Consequently, the practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment has proliferated throughout the country.

 

            Following the initiation of the anti-Maduro protests in February 2014, there have been widespread reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment inflicted on protestors arrested during the demonstrations. NGOs and governmental organizations alike have reported the commission of beatings, sexual violence, electric shocks, burns, choking, and the denial of medical care by prison officials.[8] There were also reports that detainees were forced to squat or kneel for hours at a time,[9] threatened with death,[10] doused with gasoline, sprayed with pepper gas, and in one case allegedly sodomized with a rifle barrel.[11] Additionally, of the over 153 cases of torture filed with the Venezuelan Attorney General’s office against those involved in the 2014 protests, reportedly no government officials have been charged under the 2013 Anti-Torture Act.[12] Finally, hundreds of protestors subjected to torture or cruel treatment have not filed complaints with the Venezuelan Attorney General for fear of reprisals, and some of those who did were allegedly threatened after they lodged complaints.[13]

 

            B.        Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

 

            Even though the Venezuelan constitution protects the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully,[14] thousands of anti-government protestors and political opposition figures have been arbitrarily arrested and detained by Venezuelan law enforcement from 2014-2015. In connection with the anti-Maduro demonstrations which took place throughout the country from February through June 2014, NGOs and government agencies report that between 3,306[15] and 3,400[16] protestors were arbitrarily detained, including 400 adolescents.[17] The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also determined that persons arrested in connection with the February 2014 protests were arbitrarily detained, and that Venezuela was thus “in contravention of articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . . . .”[18]

 

            Oppositional political figures have also been detained, with the consent of the corrupt Supreme Court of Venezuela,[19] despite a lack of evidence to support their guilt.[20] Specifically, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has “found the detention of political opposition members Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos to be arbitrary . . . .”[21] Additionally, there have been reports that military officials attacked Leopoldo López in his cell, and that prison guards “hurled bags of feces and urine against Lopez’ . . .and Ceballos’s cell windows . . .covering the prisoners’ cells with excrement.”[22] Thus, arbitrary arrest and detention remains common practice for the Venezuelan government.

 

            C.        Extra-Judicial Killings

 

            Extra-judicial killings by law enforcement and pro-government armed groups remain a problem in Venezuela. Between January 2000 and March 2009, law enforcement officials allegedly killed 7,998 people, and “[i]mpunity for these crimes remains the norm.”[23] In 2012 Venezuelan law enforcement officials allegedly killed 667 people,[24] and in 2013 officers reportedly killed between 600[25] and 669[26] people extra-judicially. Additionally, during the anti-government protests which proliferated throughout the country from February through June 2014, a total of 43 individuals were extra-judicially killed.[27] While many of these killings were allegedly committed by law enforcement officials, pro-government colectivos, or motorcycle-riding armed civilians coordinating with law enforcement, were reportedly involved in 52% of the civilian deaths during the 2014 protests.[28]

 

            D.        Prison Conditions

 

            Even though the Venezuelan constitution provides that any person deprived of liberty shall be treated with respect due to the inherent dignity of the human being,[29] poor prison conditions have led to the deaths of thousands of Venezuelan prisoners over the past decade. Reports indicate a lack of food, potable water, access to medical care and unhygienic conditions in Venezuelan prisons.[30] During the 2014 anti-government protests there were also reports that “detainees allegedly received no medical treatment until the court hearing, even though there was clear evidence that they had been subjected to violence . . . .”[31] Venezuelan prisons are also reportedly severely overcrowded, as the Venezuelan Observatory for Prisons “estimated prisons nationwide held more than three times their estimated capacity of 19,000 inmates.”[32] Additionally, Venezuelan prisons experience extremely high levels of violence, with 4,791 deaths and 9,931 injuries reported in the prisons since January 2004, and at least 140 deaths during 2014.[33] Finally, even though juvenile facilities are available in the country, minors are often held with adults in the prisons.[34]

 

            E.        Due Process Rights

 

            While the Venezuelan constitution secures many due process rights for Venezuelan citizens, in practice the government and the judiciary fall far short of ensuring these guarantees.[35] During the 2014 anti-government demonstrations, detained protestors reported they were not informed of the reasons for their detention, nor given the opportunity to confer with a lawyer until just before their court hearing.[36] There were also reports that many hearings were scheduled in the middle of the night, and that judges expressed impunity to evidence of physical abuse of the detainees.[37] Finally, many detainees were denied access to medical treatment until their first hearing.[38]

 

            F.        Excessive Use of Force

 

            Even though the use of firearms and toxic substances to control peaceful demonstrations is explicitly prohibited by the Venezuelan constitution,[39] Venezuelan law enforcement and Bolivarian National Guard personnel contravened this prohibition throughout 2014. Specifically, during the anti-Maduro protests initiated in February 2014, there were reports of “severe beatings; the indiscriminate firing of live ammunition, rubber bullets, and teargas into crowds . . . .”[40] There were also reports of the “use of live ammunition at close range against unarmed people . . .and the use of tear gas and rubber bullets in enclosed areas.”[41] This excessive use of force in turn led to the deaths of many protestors,[42] and reportedly the “wounding of 854 persons . . .138 of them by gunshot wounds and 330 by pellet wounds.”[43]

 

            G.        Freedom of Expression and Assembly

 

            While the Venezuelan constitution protects the right of Venezuelan citizens to demonstrate peacefully,[44] the Venezuelan government clearly does not respect this right. Aside from the aforementioned excessive use of force used by Venezuelan law enforcement and security personnel to break up the peaceful protests which proliferated throughout the country during the first half of 2014, pro-government armed groups reportedly carried out 437 attacks on protestors—with the complicity of the government forces.[45] In addition, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that protestors were arbitrarily detained specifically “to inhibit or restrict their right to freedom of expression or assembly.”[46] In detention there were reportedly “157 cases of torture of individuals for participating in protests . . . .”[47] Thus, the Venezuelan government has seriously impinged upon its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

 

            H.        Freedom of Speech and the Press

 

            The Venezuelan constitution offers protections for both the freedom of speech[48] and the freedom of the press.[49] Nonetheless, many laws have been passed criminalizing the libel of high government officials,[50] and restricting media content.[51] Additionally, during the anti-government protests between January and April 2014 there were reportedly “259 attacks, threats and cases of intimidation and harassment of journalists . . . .”[52] During the protests of 2014, the Venezuelan government also “blocked transmission of NTN 24, a cable news channel, and threatened to prosecute news outlets for their coverage of the violence.”[53]

 

            I.         Election Fraud

 

            Following the death of former President Hugo Chávez, former bus driver Nicolás Maduro was elected to the presidency by a margin of 1.49 percent in April 2013 under dubious circumstances.[54] While the Venezuelan constitution bans the use of State funds for financing political associations,[55] and ensures the right to free and fair elections,[56] reports indicated that both of these provisions were violated by the Maduro administration. Specifically, there were reports that Maduro and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela used State resources to fund his campaign,[57] and that there was “widespread pre- and post-election fraud, including electoral irregularities, government interference, and manipulation of voters . . . .”[58] Accordingly, the constitutional right of Venezuelan citizens to free and fair elections was considerably restricted.

 

            J.         Judicial Independence and Impunity

 

            The Venezuelan constitution grants every Venezuelan the right to an independent and impartial court.[59] However, substantial evidence indicates the judiciary of Venezuela is anything but independent. First, the Committee against Torture has expressed concern about the prosecution and dismissal of Venezuelan judges for adopting decisions unfavorable to the government, and its deleterious effect on the independence of other judges in the country.[60] For example, after granting a conditional release to a government critic in 2009, in compliance with both the recommendation of international human rights monitors and Venezuelan law,[61] Judge María Lourdes Afiuni was reportedly arbitrarily detained and “subjected to sexual violence while in detention . . . .”[62] Additionally, reports indicate that “[m]embers of the Supreme Court have openly rejected the principle of separation of powers, publicly pledged their commitment to advancing the government’s political agenda, and repeatedly ruled in favor of the government . . . .”[63] In 2013, the Supreme Court reportedly ruled in favor of the Venezuelan government 94 percent of the time.[64] Further, in 2013 former President Hugo Chávez’s brother, Argenis Chávez Frías, was sworn-in as the Director of the Executive Office of the Judiciary—an organ of the Supreme Court responsible for the administration and oversight of the Venezuelan judiciary.[65] Consequently, only 3.1 percent out of a total of 31,096 complaints of human rights violations received by the Public Prosecution Service from 2011 to 2014 have resulted in prosecution.[66]

 

            K.        Women’s Rights

 

            The Venezuelan constitution prohibits the trafficking of persons, in particular women, children and adolescents,[67] and guarantees the equal treatment of men and women in the workplace.[68] However, sex trafficking of women and girls, especially within the tourist centers of Venezuela, remains a serious problem.[69] Additionally, the Committee against Torture found that, “despite a steady increase in the number of cases of violence against women, in particular femicide, and the large number of complaints . . . .” the percentage of complaints brought to prosecution by the Public Prosecution Service remains low.[70] Similarly, in 2014 the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women noted “with concern . . .that many women have no effective access to justice . . . .”[71] and “that violence against women and girls is widespread and on the rise.”[72] Finally, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women also reported that, despite the aforementioned constitutional guarantees, Venezuela has a “restrictive definition of sexual harassment . . . .” and accordingly the country lacks “adequate measures to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.”[73]

 

            L.         Human Rights Defenders

 

            Even though the Venezuelan constitution protects the freedom of expression and the press,[74] government officials have been seriously impinging upon these freedoms with respect to human rights defenders. For example, the Committee against Torture stated in 2014 that it is “seriously concerned about the great number of attacks and cases of intimidation of human rights defenders that have gone unpunished.”[75] Additionally, NGOs report that Venezuelan government officials are “making unsubstantiated allegations that [human rights defenders] are seeking to undermine Venezuelan democracy . . . .”[76] and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in 2015 stated his concern with the defamation of human rights defenders by high Venezuelan government officials, the detention of human rights defenders and threats against them issued by said officials.[77] Finally, the ability of human rights defenders to conduct their work in Venezuela was greatly debilitated in 2010, when the Venezuelan Supreme Court held “that individuals or organizations that receive foreign funding could be prosecuted for ‘treason.’. . .[and] the National Assembly enacted legislation blocking organizations that ‘defend political rights’ . . .from receiving international assistance.”[78]

II.        Government Structure

_      Country Profile:

o   CIA World Factbook: Venezuela, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments: Venezuela, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/VE.html (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, http://caracas.usembassy.gov/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   U.S. Relations with Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (Jul. 20, 2015), available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35766.htm.

o   Venezuela: a country study, Library of Congress, http://cdn.loc.gov/master/frd/frdcstdy/ve/venezuelacountry00hagg/venezuelacountry00hagg.pdf (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Opinion & Analysis, Venezuela Analysis, http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Constitution of Venezuela (Spanish):

o   Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 46(1) (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

_      Constitution of Venezuela (English):

o   Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, http://venezuelanalysis.com/constitution (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Executive Branch:

o   Government Website, http://www.gobiernoenlinea.ve/home/homeG.dot (last visited Dec. 11, 2014).

o   Office of the President, http://www.presidencia.gob.ve/Site/Web/Principal/paginas/classIndex.php (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Ministries of Venezuela, http://www.gobiernoenlinea.ve/home/poderG_detalle_interna.dot (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Ministry of Tourism, http://www.mintur.gob.ve/mintur/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Youth and Sport, http://www.mindeporte.gob.ve/portal2015/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of People’s Power for Indigenous Peoples, http://www.minpi.gob.ve/ (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

o   Ministry of the Prison Service, http://www.mppsp.gob.ve/# (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Communication and Information, http://www.minci.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of the Woman and Gender Equality, http://www.minmujer.gob.ve/ (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

o   Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport, http://www.mpptaa.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of the Communities and Social Movements, http://www.mpcomunas.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Commerce, http://www.mincomercio.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Agriculture and Land, http://www.mat.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Industry, http://www.mppi.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Health, http://www.mpps.gob.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

o   Ministry of Foreign Relations, http://www.mre.gov.ve/ (last visited Oct. 9, 2015).

_      Legislative Branch:

o   National Assembly, http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve./ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Judicial Branch:

o   Supreme Tribunal of Justice, http://www.tsj.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Citizens Branch:

o   Public Ministry, http://www.mp.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Attorney General, http://www.mp.gob.ve/web/guest/127 (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Defender of the People, http://www.defensoria.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Comptroller General, http://www.cgr.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

o   Republic Moral Council, http://www.cmr.gob.ve (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Electoral Council:

o   National Electoral Council (CNE), http://www.cne.gob.ve/web/index.php (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

III.      National Human Rights Institutions

_      Defensoría del Pueblo (Defender of the People), http://www.defensoria.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      National Commission for Gender Justice, http://www.tsj.gob.ve/-/comision-nacional-de-justicia-de-genero (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      Ministry of People’s Power for Women and Gender Equality, http://www.minmujer.gob.ve/ (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      Ministry of People’s Power for Indigenous Peoples, http://www.minpi.gob.ve/ (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      National Institute against Racial Discrimination (INCODIR), https://twitter.com/incodir (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      National Coordination Group for Indigenous Health (no website found).

_      Presidential Commission to Combat All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Other Discrimination in the Venezuelan Educational System, http://www.me.gob.ve/noticias_zonas/contenido.php?id_seccion=16&id_contenido=18&modo=2 (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      Department of Indigenous Education (no website found).

IV.      National Human Rights Laws

_      Law to Punish the Crimes, Disappearances, Tortures and other Violations of Human Rights for Political Reasons in the Period 1958-1998 (2011), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/ley_sancionar_crimenes/ley_sacionar_crimenes_web.html.

_      Special Law to Prevent and Punish Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (2013), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/LEY_ESPECIAL_PARA_PREVENIR_Y_SANCIONAR_LA_TORTURA/LEY%20PARA%20SANCIONAR%20LA%20TORTURA.htm.

_      Law of Work and Workers (2012), available at http://www.lottt.gob.ve/.

_      Law for the Right of Women to a Life Free from Violence (2007), available at http://venezuela.unfpa.org/doumentos/Ley_mujer.pdf.

_      Law of Promotion and Protection of Breastfeeding (2007), available at http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/docs/1911/breastfeeding-Gaceta%20Oficial%20N%C2%BA%2038.pdf.

_      The Law for Disarmament and Control of Arms and Ammunition (2013), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/ley_desarme/LEY_PARA_EL_DESARME_Y_CONTROL_DE_ARMAS_Y_MUNICIONES.htm.

_      Law to Ban Warlike Videogames and Warlike Toys (2009), available at http://www.venamcham.org/demo/analisis/analisis_legal/juguetesbelicos.pdf.

_      Law against Kidnapping and Extortion (2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=6f0f9167-19a5-4067-9b38-6029c9b71728&groupId=10136.

_      Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Rooms with Internet, Video Games and Other Multimedia (2006), available at http://www.ministeriopublico.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=2f5cc1ef-c796-46e9-ad36-1a30c04a5301&groupId=10136.

_      Law against Racial Discrimination (2011), available at http://monitorlegislativo.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Ley-Org%C3%A1nica-Contra-la-Discriminaci%C3%B3n-Racial.pdf.

_      Drugs Act (2010), available at http://ivea.com.ve/leyes/LDD.pdf.

_      Civil Register Act (2009), available at http://www.cne.gob.ve/registrocivil/images/publico/LORC_2009.pdf.

_      Education Act (2009), available at http://www.me.gob.ve/ley_organica.pdf.

_      Act for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (2007), available at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population/trafficking/venezuela.child.07.pdf.

_      Act on Indigenous Peoples and Communities (2005), available at https://www.cbd.int/doc/measures/abs/msr-abs-ve2-es.pdf.

_      Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Peoples and Communities Act (2009), available at http://www.ministeriopublico.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=0a1965ec-1c36-4f11-8149-222f917914e2&groupId=10136.

_      Special Law against Computer Crime (2001), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=4187ac5f-5e70-4005-9080-0e2aed3d81b4&groupId=10136.

_      Community Council Law (2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=cc72df08-0593-422e-a70b-0e884f7cd59a&groupId=10136.

_      Law for Handicapped People (2006), available at http://www.minvih.gob.ve/faami/phocadownloadpap/Leyes-faami/discapacidad.pdf.

_      Other Domestic Legislation:

o   Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela Website: Legislación, http://gobiernoenlinea.gob.ve/home/legislacion.dot (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

V.        Jurisprudence

_      Committee Against Torture:

o   Committee Against Torture, Decision of the Committee against Torture under article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (fifty-fourth session) concerning Communication No. 456/2011, CAT/C/54/D/456/2011 (June 25, 2015) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsqlpKjSuhb3H3Sm4FHCtH5NrGDbU4xHOXjYvvq%2bdS8qKeBKdjNgjFhszqcihNtO24dMgBrCg5hmihM2wCVU8s7Rg2p9kBbOTXNLDpbSNjFj8%2bYOnDc8VtEweVCJ2i27EvQ%3d%3d.

_      Human Rights Committee:

o   Human Rights Committee, Views of the Human Rights Committee under article 5, paragraph 4, of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (106th session) concerning Communication No. 1940/2010, CCPR/C/106/D/1940/2010 (Dec. 4, 2012) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhspbttFNxTkgvXTPJWIZn3vlgIHqbxDxD%2fNngSu4Dyh%2fryA40ot3fyU4lmAQgjMwWyaOA%2fOMzUCWf6AOATP%2bMYa2wZNRvIZj%2bYTuJ9f4cuGN2uZt7GC4PQhnB1P9n2AL8kg%3d%3d.

_      Inter-American Court of Human Rights:

o   Case of El Amparo v. Venezuela, Merits, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 19 (Jan. 18, 1995) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_19_ing.pdf.

o   Case of El Amparo v. Venezuela, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 28 (Sep. 14, 1996) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_28_ing.pdf.

o   Case of El Amparo v. Venezuela, Interpretation of the Judgment of Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 46 (Apr. 16, 1997) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_46_ing.pdf.

o   Case of the Caracazo v. Venezuela, Merits, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 58 (Nov. 11, 1999) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_58_ing.pdf.

o   Case of the Caracazo v. Venezuela, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 95 (Aug. 29, 2002) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/Seriec_95_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Blanco-Romero et al v. Venezuela, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C.) No. 138 (Nov. 28, 2005) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_138_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Montero-Aranguren et al (Detention Center of Catia) v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 150 (Jul. 5, 2006) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_150_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Apitz Barbera et al (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 182 (Aug. 5, 2008) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_182_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Ríos et al v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 194 (Jan. 28, 2009) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_194_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Perozo et al v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 195 (Jan. 28, 2009) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_195_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Reverón Trujillo v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 197 (Jun. 30, 2009) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_197_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Barreto Leiva v. Venezuela, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 206 (Nov. 17, 2009) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_206_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Usón Ramírez v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 207 (Nov. 20, 2009) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_207_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Chocrón-Chocrón v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 227 (Jul. 1, 2011) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_227_ing.pdf.

o   Case of López Mendoza v. Venezuela, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 233 (Sep. 1, 2011) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_233_ing.pdf.

o   Case of the Barrios Family v. Venezuela, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 237 (Nov. 24, 2011) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_237_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Díaz-Peña v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 244 (Jun. 26, 2012) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_244_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Uzcátegui et al v. Venezuela, Merits and Reparations, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 249 (Sep. 3, 2012) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_249_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Castillo González et al v. Venezuela, Merits, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 256 (Nov. 27, 2012) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_256_esp.pdf.

o   Case of Brewer Carías v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 278 (May 26, 2014) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_278_ing.pdf.

o   Case of the Landaeta Mejías Brothers et al v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 281 (Aug. 27, 2014) available at http://corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_281_ing.pdf.

o   Case of Granier et all (Radio Caracas Television) v. Venezuela, Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 293 (Jun. 22, 2015) available at http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_293_esp.pdf.

_      Domestic Jurisprudence:

o   Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (Supreme Tribunal of Justice) of Venezuela Website, http://www.tsj.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

 

VI.      U.N. References

_      Venezuela Homepage, U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/LACRegion/Pages/VEIndex.aspx (last visited Dec. 11, 2015).

_      Special Procedures Reports:

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, E/CN.4/1996/35, at 40 (Jan. 9, 1996), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G96/101/56/PDF/G9610156.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, E/CN.4/1996/35/Add.1, at 149-51 (Jan. 16, 1996), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G96/103/60/PDF/G9610360.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, on the Question of the Human Rights of All Persons Subjected to any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, in particular: Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, E/CN.4/1997/7/Add.3 (Dec. 13, 1996), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G96/144/44/PDF/G9614444.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, E/CN.4/1998/68/Add.1, at 104-6 (Dec. 19, 1997), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G97/145/30/PDF/G9714530.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, E/CN.4/1998/38, at 41 (Dec. 24, 1997), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G97/145/96/PDF/G9714596.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley, E/CN.4/1998/38/Add.1, at 91-2 (Dec. 24, 1997), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G97/146/48/PDF/G9714648.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, E/CN.4/1998/39, at 50-51 (Feb. 12, 1998), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G98/104/99/PDF/G9810499.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Follow-up to the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Sir Nigel Rodley, E/CN.4/2000/9/Add.1, at 25-30 (Jan. 13, 2000), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G00/101/26/PDF/G0010126.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, E/CN.4/2004/60/Add.1, at 38 (Mar. 4, 2004), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G04/115/06/PDF/G0411506.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, E/CN.4/2005/88/Add.1, at 24 (Feb. 16, 2005), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G05/110/84/PDF/G0511084.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report submitted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.5, at 305-9 (Mar. 6, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/122/53/PDF/G0612253.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.1, at 335-7 (Mar. 21, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/119/42/PDF/G0611942.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Manfred Nowak, on Civil and Political Rights, including the Questions of Torture and Detention, E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.2, at 83-91 (Mar. 21, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/119/12/PDF/G0611912.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.1, at 267-9 (Mar. 22, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/119/58/PDF/G0611958.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, E/CN.4/2006/52/Add.1, at 126-8 (Mar. 27, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/121/27/PDF/G0612127.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, E/CN.4/2006/53/Add.1, at 294-301 (Mar. 27, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/121/83/PDF/G0612183.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, A/CN.4/2006/55/Add.1, at 381-2 (Mar. 27, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/121/12/PDF/G0612112.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, A/HRC/4/20/Add.1, at 368-71 (Mar. 12, 2007), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/120/20/PDF/G0712020.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, A/HRC/4/33/Add.2, at 129-37 (Mar. 15, 2007), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/119/15/PDF/G0711915.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, A/HRC/4/27/Add.1, at 263-4 (Mar. 26, 2007), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/121/77/PDF/G0712177.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, A/HRC/7/3/Add.2, at 163-4 (Feb. 18, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/106/95/PDF/G0810695.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report submitted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, A/HRC/7/28/Add.1, at 401-03 (Mar. 5, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/114/44/PDF/G0811444.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Vernor Muñoz, on the right to education, A/HRC/8/10/Add.1, at 22-23 (May 13, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/134/04/PDF/G0813404.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Leandro Despouy, on the independence of judges and lawyers, A/HRC/8/4/Add.1, at 189-92 (May 28, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/138/66/PDF/G0813866.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Leandro Despouy, on the independence of judges and lawyers, A/HRC/11/41/Add.1, at 204-7 (May 19, 2009), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/132/91/PDF/G0913291.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Githu Muigai, on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, A/64/295, at 21 (August 18, 2009), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/460/16/PDF/N0946016.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Asma Jahangir, on freedom of religion or belief, A/HRC/13/40/Add.1, 58-9 (Feb. 16, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/107/83/PDF/G1010783.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Margaret Sekaggya, on the situation of human rights defenders, A/HRC/13/22/Add.1, at 390-95 (Feb. 24, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/112/97/PDF/G1011297.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Manfred Nowak, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, A/HRC/13/39/Add.1, at 403-5 (Feb. 25, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/115/14/PDF/G1011514.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Frank La Rue, on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, A/HRC/14/23/Add.1, at 410-15 (June 1, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/138/41/PDF/G1013841.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, A/HRC/14/24/Add.1, 344-5 (June 18, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/145/06/PDF/G1014506.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva, on independence of judges and lawyers, A/HRC/14/26/Add.1, at 163-76 (June 18, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/145/09/PDF/G1014509.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Margaret Sekaggya, on the situation of human rights defenders, A/HRC/16/44/Add.1, 333-43 (Feb. 28, 2011), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/114/27/PDF/G1111427.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Juan E. Méndez, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, A/HRC/16/52/Add.1, 553-5 (Mar. 1, 2011), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/114/90/PDF/G1111490.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Anand Grover, on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, A/HRC/17/25/Add.1, 52-3 (May 16, 2011), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/132/11/PDF/G1113211.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Frank La Rue, on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, A/HRC/17/27/Add.1, 321-4 (May 27, 2011), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/135/41/PDF/G1113541.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Margaret Sekaggya, on the situation of human rights defenders, A/HRC/19/55/Add.2, at 44 (Feb. 23, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/107/45/PDF/G1210745.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Juan E. Méndez, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, A/HRC/19/61/Add.4, at 77-8 (Feb. 29, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/110/40/PDF/G1211040.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, A/HRC/20/22/Add.4, at 46 (June 18, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/141/71/PDF/G1214171.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mutuma Ruteere, on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, A/67/328, at 17 (Aug. 22, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/470/32/PDF/N1247032.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, A/HRC/23/47/Add.5, at 62-3 (May 27, 2013), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G13/140/38/PDF/G1314038.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Maina Kiai, on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, A/HRC/23/39/Add.2, at 59-60 (May 30, 2013), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G13/141/63/PDF/G1314163.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, on the rights of indigenous peoples, A/HRC/24/41/Add.4, at 44-5 (Sep. 2, 2013), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G13/166/25/PDF/G1316625.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Margaret Sekaggya, on the situation of human rights defenders, A/HRC/25/55/Add.3, at 62-3 (Mar. 3, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/115/63/PDF/G1411563.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, A/HRC/26/36/Add.2, at 54-5 (June 2, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/039/07/PDF/G1403907.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Special Rapporteur, Michel Forst, on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, A/HRC/28/63/Add.1, at 29-31 (Mar. 4, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/042/99/PDF/G1504299.pdf?OpenElement.

_      Human Rights Council Reports:

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventy-second session (20-29 April 2015)-No. 7/2015 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)-Communication addressed to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 14 September 2014, A/HRC/WGAD/2015/7 (Jul. 13, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/156/48/PDF/G1515648.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventy-first session (17-21 November 2014)-No. 51/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)-Communication addressed to the Government on 28 February 2014, A/HRC/WGAD/2014/51 (Jan. 28, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/012/56/PDF/G1501256.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventieth session, 25-29 August 2014-No. 29/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2014/29 (Nov. 21, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/227/69/PDF/G1422769.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinion No. 30/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)-Communication addressed to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 18 June 2014, A/HRC/WGAD/2014/30 (Nov. 3, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/196/65/PDF/G1419665.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventieth session, 25-29 August 2014-No. 26/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2014/26 (Nov. 3, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/196/44/PDF/G1419644.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-fifth session, 15-23 November 2012-No. 56/2012 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2012/56 (May 26, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/035/82/PDF/G1403582.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-eight session, 13-22 November 2013-No. 47/2013 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2013/47 (Apr. 4, 2014), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/132/25/PDF/G1413225.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-fourth session, 27-31 August 2012-No. 28/2012 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2012/28 (Nov. 22, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/182/56/PDF/G1218256.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-second session, 16-25 November 2011-No. 65/2011, A/HRC/WGAD/2011/65 (June 21, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/145/62/PDF/G1214562.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions Adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-second session, 16-25 November 2011-No. 62/2011 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2011/62 (June 12, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/145/06/PDF/G1214506.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions Adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-first session, 19 August-2 September 2011-No.28/2011 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2011/28 (Feb. 29, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/113/18/PDF/G1211318.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions Adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-first session, 29 August-2 September 2011-No. 27/2011 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2011/27 (Feb. 29, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/113/11/PDF/G1211311.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its fifty-ninth session, 18-26 November 2010-No. 31/2010 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), A/HRC/WGAD/2010/31 (Feb. 27, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/110/15/PDF/G1211015.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review-Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Views on conclusions and/or recommendations, voluntary commitments and replies presented by the State under review, A/HRC/19/12/Add.1 (Feb. 16, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G12/104/60/PDF/G1210460.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review-Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), A/HRC/19/12 (Dec. 7, 2011), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/172/43/PDF/G1117243.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, A/HRC/13/31, at 128 (Dec. 21, 2009), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/177/04/PDF/G0917704.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, A/HRC/4/41, at 97-98 (Jan. 25, 2007), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/105/30/PDF/G0710530.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, E/CN.4/2006/56, at 122-3 (Dec. 27, 2005), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G05/168/77/PDF/G0516877.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, E/CN.4/1998/43, at 72 (Jan. 12, 1998), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G98/100/94/IMG/G9810094.pdf?OpenElement.

_      High Commissioner for Human Rights Reports:

o   Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Combating defamation of religions, E/CN.4/2006/12, at 4 (Feb. 6, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/105/68/PDF/G0610568.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the abduction of children in Africa, E/CN.4/2006/65, at 8-9 (Feb. 8, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/106/63/PDF/G0610663.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, A/HRC/10/26, at 4-5 (Jan. 14, 2009), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/103/30/PDF/G0910330.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, A/HRC/14/35/Add.1, at 16-17 (June 2, 2010), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G10/139/54/PDF/G1013954.pdf?OpenElement.

_      Secretary-General Reports:

o   Note by the Secretary-General, Human rights and terrorism, E/CN.4/1996/43, at 13-14 (Feb. 12, 1996), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G96/105/78/PDF/G9610578.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Protection of migrants, A/56/310, at 4 (Aug. 20, 2001), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N01/517/40/PDF/N0151740.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Right of peoples to self-determination, A/57/312, at 1-2 (Aug. 15, 2002), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N02/530/95/PDF/N0253095.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, The right to development, A/58/276/Add.1, at 3 (Oct. 27, 2003), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/582/22/PDF/N0358222.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Missing persons, A/61/476, at 9 (Sep. 18, 2006), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/546/12/PDF/N0654612.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Protection of migrants, A/62/299, at 14 (Aug. 24, 2007), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/489/76/PDF/N0748976.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Human rights and unilateral coercive measures, A/HRC/9/2, at 5-6 (Jul. 17, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/147/16/PDF/G0814716.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, A/63/259, at 14-16 (Aug. 11, 2008), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N08/456/17/PDF/N0845617.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, A/67/271, at 8 (Aug. 8, 2012), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/456/66/PDF/N1245666.pdf?OpenElement.

o   Report of the Secretary-General, Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, A/68/177, at 7-8 (Jul. 23, 2013), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/404/43/PDF/N1340443.pdf?OpenElement.

VII.     Human Rights NGOs and Research Centers

_      Centro de Justicia y Paz (CEPAZ), http://cepaz.org.ve/ (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_      Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, http://w2.ucab.edu.ve/cddhh.html (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_      Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de Margarita (CDH-UNIMAR), http://www.unimar.edu.ve/unimarportal/index.php (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_      Centro para la Paz y los Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Central de Venezuela, http://www.ucv.ve/navegacion-horizontal/areas/areas-generales/vida-en-el-campus/centro-para-la-paz.html (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      CIVILIS Derechos Humanos, http://www.civilisac.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Coalición de Organizaciones por el derecho a la salud y la vida (CODEVIDA), https://coalicionporlavida.wordpress.com/codevida/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Comisión para los Derechos Humanos del Estado Zulia (CODHEZ), https://codhez.wordpress.com/about/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Comité de Familiares de Víctimas de los sucesos del 27 de Febrero y Marzo del 89 (COFAVIC), http://www.cofavic.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Comité de los Derechos Humanos en Educación (no website found).

_      Comité de Víctimas contra la Impunidad del Estado Lara (COVICIL), http://comitedevictimascontralaimpunidadlara.blogspot.com/ (last visited Dec. 12, 2015).

_      Espacio Público, http://espaciopublico.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Federación de Sociedades de Padres y Representantes (Fenasopadres), http://fenasopadres.blogspot.com/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Foro Por La Vida, http://foroporlavida.blogspot.com/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Fundación Aguaclara, http://www.aguaclara.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Fundación de Derechos Humanos del Estado Anzoátegui (no website found).

_      Fundación Ensayos para el Aprendizaje Permanente (FEPAP) (no website found).

_      Fundación para el Debido Proceso (Fundepro), http://www.fundepro.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Fundación José María Bengoa para la Alimentación y Nutrición, http://www.fundacionbengoa.org/ (last visited Nov. 19, 2015).

_      Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de Los Andes, http://www.uladdhh.org.ve/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones, http://www.oveprisiones.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Observatorio Venezolano de Salud (no website found).

_      Observatorio Venezolano de Violencia (OVV), http://observatoriodeviolencia.org.ve/ws/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Ayacucho (no website found).

_      Programa Venezolano de Educación - Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA), http://www.derechos.org.ve/provea/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz, http://www.reddeapoyo.org/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados, http://www.sjrvenezuela.org.ve/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Unión Afirmativa, http://unionafirmativa0.tripod.com/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Venezuela Diversa, http://venezueladiversaac.blogspot.com/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Red por los Derechos Humanos de los Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes (REDHNNA) (no website found).

_      Instituto de Investigaciones de Convivencia y Seguridad Ciudadana (INCOSEC), https://incosec.wordpress.com/ (last visited Nov. 22, 2015).

_      Asociación Civil Control Ciudadano (CC), http://www.controlciudadano.org/ (last visited Nov. 22, 2015).

_      Acción Solidaria, http://accionsolidaria.info/nuevo/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

 

VIII.   International Non-Governmental Organization Reports

_      Amnesty International:

o   Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 401-4 (2015), available at http://www.amnestyusa.org/pdfs/AIR15_English.PDF.

_ Synopsis: This report outlines the arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and other human rights violations committed against anti-Maduro protestors in 2014. It also outlines Venezuela’s denunciation of the American Convention on Human Rights, and subsequent withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

o   Venezuela: Briefing to the UN Committee against Torture, 53rd Session, November 2014, Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/AMR53/020/2014/en/ (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   Amnesty International Report 2012: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/air12-report-english.pdf, at 363-5 (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_      Human Rights Watch:

o   Punished for Protesting: Rights Violations in Venezuela’s Streets, Detention Centers, and Justice System, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/05/05/punished-protesting/rights-violations-venezuelas-streets-detention-centers-and (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_ Synopsis: This article outlines the multiple human rights abuses perpetrated by the Venezuelan security forces in response to the 2014 protests against President Nicolas Maduro. These human rights violations included the violation of the right to life, prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, rights to bodily integrity, security, liberty and due process. Additionally, this article exhibits how prosecutors and judges refused to acknowledge obvious signs of human rights abuses, while President Maduro and the Attorney General’s Office are conducting investigations into alleged human rights violations. Finally, it states how prosecutors contributed to the due process violations by interrogating detainees without a defense lawyer present, contravening Venezuelan law.

o   Venezuela Unfit for a New Human Rights Council Term: Seriously Violates Human Rights Standards, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/10/22/venezuela-unfit-new-human-rights-council-term (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_ Synopsis: This article argues that Venezuela should be precluded from serving another term on the Human Rights Council, as it continues to violate the human rights of its citizens. Specifically, it discusses how in 2014 Venezuelan security forces arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured and denied due process rights to a number of peaceful protestors. Additionally, it acknowledges how Venezuela has withdrawn from the American Convention on Human Rights and has prohibited the visit of the UN special rapporteurs since 1996.

o   Venezuela Opposition Leader Unjustly Convicted: Due Process Violations, Lack of Evidence in Trial of Lopez, Students, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/09/10/venezuela-opposition-leader-unjustly-convicted (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   Venezuela Candidates Barred Arbitrarily: Regional Bodies, Governments Should Condemn Move, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/08/27/venezuela-candidates-barred-arbitrarily (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   Venezuela Critics Under Threat: Interrogations, Detentions, Prosecutions, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/08/06/venezuela-critics-under-threat (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   Human Rights Watch presentation on Venezuela before the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/06/01/human-rights-watch-presentation-venezuela-un-committee-economic-social-and-cultural (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_ Synopsis: This report outlines the failure of Venezuela to fulfill its international obligation to ensure access to medicines and medical supplies to all without discrimination.

o   Venezuela’s Health Care Crisis, Diederik Lohman, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/29/venezuelas-health-care-crisis (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   Venezuela: Stop Harassing Human Rights Defenders: Intimidation Undermines Independent Oversight, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/07/venezuela-stop-harassing-human-rights-defenders (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_ Synopsis: This report outlines the systematic human rights violations Venezuelan security forces committed in 2014. These violations included the arbitrary arrest and detention of anti-Maduro protestors, violation of their due process rights, severe beatings, electric shocks and burns, and other forms of ill-treatment amounting to torture.

o   World Report 2014, Human Rights Watch, http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/wr2014_web_0.pdf (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

o   World Report 2013, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/wr2013_web.pdf (last visited Nov. 1, 2015).

_      Reporters Sans Frontiers International:

o   Written statement submitted by the Reports Sans Frontiers International: News providers as a first line of defence for human rights defenders, A/HRC/28/NGO/46 (Feb. 20, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/030/43/PDF/G1503043.pdf?OpenElement.

_      International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU):

o   Written statement submitted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), E/CN.4/2004/NGO/256, at 2 (Mar. 11, 2004), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G04/118/86/PDF/G0411886.pdf?OpenElement.

 

IX.      Domestic Non-Governmental Organization Reports

_      Espacio Público:

o   Alternative Report about the application of the Pact of Civil and Political Rights in its 19th article, Espacio Público, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/VEN/INT_CCPR_CSS_VEN_20711_S.pdf (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz:

o   Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz, Informe sobre la práctica de la tortura en Venezuela (2012) available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/VEN/INT_CAT_CSS_VEN_18661_S.pdf.

_      Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones:

o   Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones, Informe sobre la situación de privados de libertad en Venezuela (Oct. 16, 2014) available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/VEN/INT_CAT_CSS_VEN_18667_S.pdf.

X.        U.S. Department of State Reports

_      Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

o   Synopsis: This report discusses the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Venezuelan government security forces during the antigovernment protests which proliferated throughout the country during the first half of 2014. Specifically, it observes how security forces used force to break up antigovernment protests, arbitrarily detained, tortured and incarcerated many of the protestors. It also outlines how the Venezuelan government used the judiciary to intimidate anti-government political, civil society and business leaders, and worked to restrict the freedom of the press throughout the country. Finally, the report highlights the life-threating and overcrowded prison conditions in the country.

_      Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2013humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2012humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2011humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2010 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154523.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2009 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/wha/136130.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2008 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119177.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2007 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100657.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2006 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78909.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2005 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61745.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2004 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41778.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2003 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27923.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2002 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18348.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2001 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/wha/8229.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      2000 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/wha/835.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      1999 Human Rights Report: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/405.htm (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

XI.      International Inter-Governmental Organization Reports

_      Human Rights Committee:

o   Human Rights Committee, Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CCPR/C/VEN/CO/4 (2015), available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/VEN/CO/4&Lang=En.

_      Committee against Torture:

o   Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

_      Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women:

o   Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/7-8 (Nov. 14, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsl2Y0YMjGrSfy7wV721E18XqnNbXzEQuYu2zvaoFnYUC5C2N5R7o7qTotlPcMjWYayiDli%2blL37crUInu4QY4whhuuwe8h2YPaed5bbFMrU9oRMurTczOy7fM6peUfEtYQ%3d%3d.

o   Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/6 (Jan. 31, 2006) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsl2Y0YMjGrSfy7wV721E18XQza94ljiqkuSd0p3kqlxyReXv2EKBVvEhXB270x18q2r%2bLJAs0%2fKZsdB4Ob6SNgmu%2fQOntX5B0NQCQMQ6eOUq.

_      Committee on the Rights of the Child:

o   Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations on the report submitted by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under article 12, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, CRC/C/OPSC/VEN/CO/1 (Nov. 3, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsrHPiif0%2f1kumQo%2bD50%2f9nZLGJ9ajwR5yhrDbXy6tcFvZIdd%2ft0OFeQuzryq8tETI4BCzZs2mZISm%2biM2QNNIn4tqYiOp9UmI83PDhcN9rHPPFVchvjEpWA1Je7O6bO3Cg%3d%3d.

o   Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations on the report submitted by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, CRC/C/OPAC/VEN/CO/1 (Nov. 2, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsq3bGBgj7nnUgqOo%2fynBtO%2fMOi7enixSJU05fKJdnlZo0gSQQypruu9moZGqXDWfnZxaO6zL0F%2bBLirHXyw4fYO26rq3hBgDcZ22v0%2fKDSgjF9tt1b6xJQYz85P9769Saw%3d%3d.

o   Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations on the combined third and fifth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CRC/C/VEN/CO/3-5 (Oct. 12, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsuWScRhT3G6k2pkVh7X2%2fMOw0DEwNRf5RaPEJOG0qVPmM9Lx%2fEL5CKSxreU1TzELQXMzxf7tkQJvPWqKfasBzqo8Lf%2bbqrRsnWtOXVFf7zQ4.

o   Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), CRC/C/VEN/CO/2 (Oct. 17, 2007) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsuWScRhT3G6k2pkVh7X2%2fMMLLDj4XewPwnw91G3Cj2QiZayoMaPuKQ4sds2r%2foIXJy6Ki%2fSvWzzZlXU3O7EVzD%2b8M4PGhx89RuB2mpPoNZOl.

_      Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:

o   Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Concluding observations on the combined nineteenth to twenty-first periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CERD/C/VEN/CO/19-21 (Sep. 23, 2013) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhssOX6SL2UW4zWtwmBITIxPALrzKCnYO6BXzPakcX8tr0ZncNn2zPL2FSH6f8N6zy1Zof8e98z5nbNyENYaL1e3BdLfTFfiAWJF%2fxaTMO%2fniw9QZcMHrpu9OKzu6RQaqh8g%3d%3d.

o   Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), CERD/C/VEN/CO/18 (Mar. 26, 2007) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhssOX6SL2UW4zWtwmBITIxPCsUCMBQcOV67iOu5tsdngI%2bpxaTun%2bb69erUaV9FJGl%2fKUwV2kiHGCTR7cRlMHtzEmG%2bFIS1C%2bAIKFnbxRM7iz.

_      Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:

o   Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Venezuela, E/C.12/1/Add.56 (May 21, 2001) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=4slQ6QSmlBEDzFEovLCuWzVCXkRUT2pEFOZi2eiiYl61j9WtkulkSCOVxCSObstewbp9M8KuAXXazI13GA0XehfWZ64wP35GwYRqdCmIbn%2b75Xwb889JcqT0%2fUOuWnIf.

_      International Labour Organization:

o   Country Profile of Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of, International Labour Organization, http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:11110:0::NO::P11110_COUNTRY_ID:102880 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization:

o   Country Profile of Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=ven (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

XII.     Newspapers, Magazines, and Electronic Journals

_      Conflictove, http://www.conflictove.org.ve/ (last visited Nov. 8, 2015).

_      El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/ (last visited Dec. 6, 2015).

_      Últimas Noticias, http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      2001, http://www.2001.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Correo del Orinoco, http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Nacional, http://www.el-nacional.com/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Tal Cual, http://www.talcualdigital.com/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Diario Metropolitano, http://www.diariometropolitano.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Mundo Oriental, http://www.mundo-oriental.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Norte, http://www.elnorte.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Nueva Prensa, http://nuevaprensa.web.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Tiempo, http://eltiempo.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      Diario Visión Apureña, http://www.visionapurena.com/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Clarín, http://www.elclarin.net.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Periodiquito, http://www.elperiodiquito.com/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      El Siglo, http://elsiglo.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

_      La Prensa de Barinas, http://www.laprensadebarinas.com.ve/news/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Correo del Caroní, http://www.correodelcaroni.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Diario de Guayana, http://www.eldiariodeguayana.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Expreso, http://www.diarioelexpreso.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Nueva Prensa de Guayana, http://www.nuevaprensa.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Carabobeño, http://www.el-carabobeno.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario La Costa, http://diariolacosta.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Notitarde, http://www.notitarde.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      La Mañana, http://www.lamanana.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Nuevo Día, http://www.nuevodia.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario La Antena, http://www.diariolaantena.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Impulso, http://www.elimpulso.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Informador, http://www.elinformador.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      La Prensa Lara, http://www.laprensalara.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Diario de Los Andes, http://www.diariodelosandes.com/#/0 (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario Frontera, http://www.diariofrontera.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Pico Bolívar, http://www.picobolivar.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario La Región, http://www.diariolaregion.net/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario La Voz, http://www.diariolavoz.net/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Periódico de Monagas, http://elperiodicodemonagas.com.ve/ww/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      La Verdad de Monagas, http://www.laverdaddemonagas.com/index.php (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario Caribazo, http://www.diariocaribazo.net/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      La Hora, http://www.lahora.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Sol de Margarita, http://www.elsoldemargarita.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      El Regional, http://elregional.net.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Última Hora, http://ultimahoradigital.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      La Nación, http://www.lanacionweb.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario El Tiempo, http://www.diarioeltiempo.com.ve/sitio/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Panorama, http://www.panorama.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Diario La Verdad, http://www.laverdad.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Versión Final, http://versionfinal.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Abrebrecha, http://www.abrebrecha.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      AVN, http://www.avn.info.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Analítica, http://www.analitica.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Aporrea, http://www.aporrea.org/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Confirmado, http://confirmado.com.ve/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Entorno Inteligente, http://www.entornointeligente.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Noticias 24, http://www.noticias24.com/index.html (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Noticiero Digital, http://www.noticierodigital.com/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

_      Venezuela Today, http://venezuelatoday.net/ (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).  


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[1] See, e.g., IACHR Deeply Concerned over Result of Venezuela’s Denunciation of the American Convention, Organization of American States (Sep. 10, 2013), available at http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2013/064.asp; Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 403 (2015), available at http://www.amnestyusa.org/pdfs/AIR15_English.PDF; Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/7-8, at ¶ 10 (Nov. 14, 2014).

 

[2] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 46(1) (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[3] See, e.g., Law to Punish the Crimes, Disappearances, Tortures and other Violations of Human Rights for Political Reasons in the Period 1958-1998 (2011); Special Law to Prevent and Punish Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (2013).

[4] Id.

[5] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 2 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[6] Id.

[7]Id. at 10.  

[8]Id. at 4; World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015); Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 402 (2015); Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 5-6 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[9] Id.; World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[10] Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 402 (2015); Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 5-6 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[11] Id.

[12]Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 4-5 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[13] Id.; Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 4 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[14] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 68 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[15] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 3 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement; World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[16] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 9 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[17] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[18] Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventy-first session (17-21 November 2014)-No. 51/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)-Communication addressed to the Government on 28 February 2014, A/HRC/WGAD/2014/51, at ¶ 41 (Jan. 28, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/012/56/PDF/G1501256.pdf?OpenElement.

[19] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 27 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[20] Id. at 26.

[21] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 3 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[22] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 16 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[23] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[24] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 7 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[25] Id.

[26] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 2 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[27] Id. at 3.

[28] Id.

[29] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 46(2) (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[30] Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 403 (2015); Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 6 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[31] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 3 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[32] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 6 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[33] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 9 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement. See also World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015); Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 7 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[34] Id. at 6.

[35] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 49 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[36] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 3 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement; World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015); Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 402 (2015).

[37] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[38] Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 402 (2015).

[39] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 68 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[40] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[41] Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 401 (2015).

[42] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 3 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[43] Id. at 24.

[44] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 68 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[45] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 6 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[46] Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventy-first session (17-21 November 2014)-No. 51/2014 (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)-Communication addressed to the Government on 28 February 2014, A/HRC/WGAD/2014/51, at ¶ 37 (Jan. 28, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/012/56/PDF/G1501256.pdf?OpenElement.

[47] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 24 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[48] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 57 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[49] Id. at art. 58.

[50] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[51] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 17 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[52] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 6 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement. See also Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 17 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[53] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[54] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 1 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[55] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 67 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[56] Id.

[57] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 1 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[58] Id. at 26.

[59] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 49(3) (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[60] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 7 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[61] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[62] Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/7-8, at ¶ 38 (Nov. 14, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsl2Y0YMjGrSfy7wV721E18XqnNbXzEQuYu2zvaoFnYUC5C2N5R7o7qTotlPcMjWYayiDli%2blL37crUInu4QY4whhuuwe8h2YPaed5bbFMrU9oRMurTczOy7fM6peUfEtYQ%3d%3d.

[63] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[64] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014: Venezuela, U.S. Dep’t of State, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236936.pdf, at 14 (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).

[65]Id. See also Argenis Chávez es el director de la DEM y jefe de los jueces del país, El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/130612/argenis-chavez-es-el-director-de-la-dem-y-jefe-de-los-jueces-del-pais (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

[66] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 2 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[67] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 54 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[68] Id. at art. 88.

[69] Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/7-8, at ¶ 20 (Nov. 14, 2014). See also Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations on the report submitted by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under article 12, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, CRC/C/OPSC/VEN/CO/1 (Nov. 3, 2014) available at http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhsrHPiif0%2f1kumQo%2bD50%2f9nZLGJ9ajwR5yhrDbXy6tcFvZIdd%2ft0OFeQuzryq8tETI4BCzZs2mZISm%2biM2QNNIn4tqYiOp9UmI83PDhcN9rHPPFVchvjEpWA1Je7O6bO3Cg%3d%3d.

[70] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 8 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement.

[71] Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/7-8, at ¶ 10 (Nov. 14, 2014).

[72] Id. at ¶ 18.

[73] Id. at ¶ 28.

[74] Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela de 20 Diciembre de 1999, G.O.5.908E, at art. 57 (Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.mp.gob.ve/LEYES/constitucion/constitucion1.html.

[75] Committee against Torture, Venezuela: Concluding Observations, CAT/C/VEN/CO/3-4, at 6 (Dec. 12, 2014) available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/241/72/PDF/G1424172.pdf?OpenElement. See also Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World’s Human Rights, Amnesty International, at 402 (2015) (noting that “two members of the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory were threatened and intimidated on a number of occasions.”).

[76] Venezuela: Stop Harassing Human Rights Defenders: Intimidation Undermines Independent Oversight, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/07/venezuela-stop-harassing-human-rights-defenders (last visited Dec. 9, 2015).

[77] Report of the Special Rapporteur, Michel Forst, on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, A/HRC/28/63/Add.1, at ¶ 196 (Mar. 4, 2015), available at http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/042/99/PDF/G1504299.pdf?OpenElement.

[78] World Report 2015: Venezuela, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/Venezuela (last visited Dec. 8, 2015).