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The UN Office for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), called on Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship to stop the persecution and allow journalists, human rights defenders and civil society do their work.
“We are deeply concerned about the continuous and growing attacks in Venezuela against civil society organizations, human rights defenders and journalists,” the UN Human Rights office said in a statement.
UN Human Rights recalled that “in the last incident, on January 12th in the state of Zulia, agents of the regional police and military counterintelligence raided the NGO Azul Positivo. Documents were seized and six staff members were arrested. Five of them remain in detention. They have not been able to see their lawyers or their relatives.”
In addition, she stressed that the persecution has also been against journalists. “At least three media outlets were also attacked on January 8th, when public officials reportedly confiscated their equipment, sealed off their offices and intimidated staff.”
“These incidents followed similar cases of harassment or intimidation of journalists, as public officials issued a series of statements delegitimizing the media. There are increasingly worrying reports that journalists are censoring themselves out of fear,” she added.
Lastly, she urged the regime to stop attacking people for doing legitimate work, whether in the humanitarian or human rights sector or in the media.
“A free, diverse and active civil society is fundamental to any democracy and must be protected, not stigmatized or persecuted,” she concluded.
🇻🇪 #Venezuela: We are deeply concerned by continuous and increasing attacks against civil society, human rights defenders and journalists. We urge the authorities to stop targeting people for performing legitimate work. Learn more: https://t.co/kMQUZkePQJ
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) January 14, 2021
