Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on Venezuela
Human Rights Council – 48th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Mr. Jesse Lynch
We thank the Fact Finding Mission for its work documenting past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Venezuela, and contributing to efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible.
The human rights situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate. From September 2020 to March 2021, OHCHR documented at least 66 cases of intimidation, harassment, and criminalization of journalists, media outlets, human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, union leaders, and members or supporters of the opposition, and their relatives.
The United States reiterates calls for the full release of all those arbitrarily detained and for the intimidation of human rights defenders and civil society members to cease.
We believe that the best solution to this crisis is a peaceful, Venezuelan-led, comprehensive negotiations process that leads to free and fair local, parliamentary, and presidential elections and a restoration of Venezuela’s institutions and rule of law.
Question: How can states support accountability for attacks against NGO workers, human right defenders, and journalists?