What changed

B90181/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernandez Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela

(2024/2618(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 144144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Venezuela is experiencing a continuous institutional, economic and political instability; whereas restrictions on fundamental rights have been systematic against dissidents, trade unions, human rights defenders and activists;

A. whereas there are over 300 political prisoners in Venezuela;

B. whereas there have been over 15,800 politically motivated arrests in Venezuela since 2014; whereas over 260 political prisoners are still detained, including 126 in pre-trial detention;

B. whereas on 9 February 2024, Rocío San Miguel, a lawyer and human rights activist with Spanish nationality, was kidnapped by the Venezuelan regime, and sentenced on politically motivated grounds of suspected conspiracy against Nicolás Maduro and his regime; whereas she is currently being detained in El Helicoide prison, which is known for human rights abuses, including torture;

C. whereas on February 9, Venezuelan authorities arrested Rocío San Miguel, a lawyer and human rights activist; whereas her whereabouts remained unknown until 15 February, constituting a short term enforced disappearance;

C. whereas the Maduro regime expelled the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) after accusing them of ‘colonialist, abusive’ behaviour and fomenting political opposition, following the UN commissioner’s condemnation of San Miguel’s arrest;

D. whereas theGeneral UnitedHernández NationsDa WorkingCosta Grouphas been a political prisoner since August 2018; whereas on Arbitrary19 DetentionFebruary demanded2024, thehe Venezuelanwas governmentforcibly fortransferred theto immediateEl releaseRodeo of1 Generalprison, Héctordesigned Armandoto Hernándezdetain Dapolitical Costa,prisoners; formerwhereas headan ofunknown thenumber Nationalof Guard'sprisoners, Anti-Drugincluding Command,some detainedEU sincecitizens, Augustwere 13,also 2018;transferred; whereas onthe 19general February,suffers hefrom wasmedical unexpectedlyailments transferredthat torequire theconstant "Eltreatment, Rodeowhich I"he prison;is being denied;

E. whereas on 9 January 2024, the National Assembly resumed consideration of a bill that seeks to restrict, potentially criminalise and close non-governmental organisations;

E. whereas four campaign coordinators working for the opposition to the regime’s presidential candidate, María Corina Machado – Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro, Guillermo Lopez and Emil Brandt – have also been detained on political grounds and are incommunicado;

F. whereas on 15 February, the Venezuelan government announced it was suspending the activities of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Venezuela;

F. whereas in January 2024, the unrecognised National Assembly resumed its consideration of a law seeking to restrict, criminalise and shutter non-governmental organisations;

1. Condemns the latest wave of politically motivated arrests, including, among others, against Rocio San Miguel;

1. Strongly condemns the Maduro regime for imprisoning hundreds of political prisoners;

2. Is concerned by the intensification of the attacks on civic and democratic space and by the use of politically motivated arbitrary detentions; calls on the Venezuelan authorities to immediately cease its policy of repression;

2. Deplores the fact that these prisoners are being held in conditions that contravene the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;

3. Calls forDemands the immediate and unconditional release of all people arbitrarily detained; calls on Venezuelan authorities to guarantee theirpolitical physicalprisoners and psychological safetyarbitrarily anddetained theirpersons, accessand tothe appropriatefull healthrestoration careof and/ortheir medicinesrights; whileexhorts imprisoned,the andregime to guarantee immediate accesscease toits lawyerspolicy of choice,repression asand wellattacks ason familycivil visitssociety withoutand unduethe restrictions;opposition;

4. Call on the Venezuelan authorities to re-establish the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and guarantee their access to prisons, as well as to guarantee unhindered access to the UN Special Procedure mandates;

4. Urges the Chilean authorities to fully investigate the murder of Ronald Ojeda, a former political prisoner who escaped the Maduro regime;

5. Call for the EEAS to work with other governments at the UN Human Rights Council to actively support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which is up for renewal in September 2024;

5. Calls on the VP/HR and the Council to increase sanctions on the regime, including high-level officials, members of the security forces and the regime’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, and Maduro himself;

6. Calls on the EEAS, the Member States and the EU Delegation to Venezuela to actively support international scrutiny, to continue prioritising the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to provide logistical and financial support to human rights defenders and the civil society;

6. Urges the International Criminal Court to include ongoing human rights violations and arbitrary detentions in its investigation into the Maduro regime’s alleged crimes against humanity;

7. Notes that the Venezuelan authorities have communicated the call for Presidential election to be held on the 28 of July 2024; urges Venezuelan authorities to ensure the electoral process is fair, free, competitive, inclusive and transparent;

7. Calls on the international community to support a return to democracy in Venezuela, particularly in the light of the upcoming elections, in which the leader of the opposition to the regime, María Corina Machado, must be allowed to fully participate;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Venezuelan authorities.

8. Urges the Venezuelan authorities to reinstate the OHCHR and guarantee its access to prisons, as well as guarantee unhindered access to the UN special procedure mandate-holders;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the VP/HR, the Member States, the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Organization of American States, the UN Secretary-General and the Venezuelan regime.