Un human rights council 45: interactive dialogue with the fact finding mission on venezuela

Speech UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 45: INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE FACT FINDING MISSION ON VENEZUELA UK's International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French's statement during

the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding mission on Venezuela. This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government Thank you, Madam President. We welcome the High

Commissioner’s recent update on the human rights situation in Venezuela and thank her for her work. We commend the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) for its report

and support a renewal of its mandate. The IFFM’s report concerns us greatly. It describes extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture. The IFFM

reports that it has reasonable grounds to believe that senior figures in the Venezuelan regime ordered or contributed to the commission of crimes it documents. Such gross human rights

violations are completely unacceptable. The political, human rights and humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate and the rule of law has been further weakened. At a time when the

COVID pandemic and its consequences demand urgent attention, the regime in Venezuela is continuing its attacks on the political opposition; stifling media freedom; and threatening and

intimidating journalists, human rights defenders and many others. We welcome the recent release of some political prisoners and urge that all those still held be released immediately and

unconditionally. We urge and expect Venezuela to promote and protect human rights, to prevent further serious abuses, and to comply fully with its obligations as an HRC member. What tools

does civil society need to support your work in the next phase of your mandate? Thank you. UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 24 September 2020