On the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernandez Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela
B-9-2024-0181
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Jordi Solé, Francisco Guerreiro, Bronis Ropė, Hannah Neumann, Ignazio Corrao, Heidi Hautala, Henrike Hahn
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A motion for a resolution on political prisoners in Venezuela, tabled by the Verts/ALE Group. It condemns recent politically motivated arrests, including that of Rocío San Miguel, and calls for the release of all arbitrarily detained people.¶¶¶ It asks Venezuelan authorities to restore the UN human rights office, guarantee access to prisons and UN mandates, and ensure safety, healthcare, lawyers and family visits for detainees.¶¶ It calls on the EEAS, member states and the EU Delegation to support international scrutiny, human rights defenders and civil society, and to back renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission mandate.¶¶ It urges Venezuelan authorities to ensure the presidential election called for 28 July 2024 is fair, free, competitive, inclusive and transparent.¶
Key points
- Condemns the latest wave of politically motivated arrests, including against Rocío San Miguel.¶
- Is concerned by attacks on civic and democratic space and by politically motivated arbitrary detentions; calls on Venezuelan authorities to cease their policy of repression.¶
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained people.¶
- Calls on Venezuelan authorities to guarantee detainees' physical and psychological safety, access to health care and medicines, access to lawyers of choice and family visits without undue restrictions.
- Calls on Venezuelan authorities to re-establish the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and guarantee its access to prisons and unhindered access to UN Special Procedure mandates.¶
- Calls for the EEAS to work with other governments at the UN Human Rights Council to support renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela mandate, up for renewal in September 2024.¶
- Calls on the EEAS, member states and the EU Delegation to Venezuela to support international scrutiny, prioritise human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and provide logistical and financial support to human rights defenders and civil society.¶
- Notes the call for a presidential election on 28 July 2024; urges Venezuelan authorities to ensure the electoral process is fair, free, competitive, inclusive and transparent.¶
Who is affected
- Venezuelan authorities: called on to release detainees, cease repression, restore the UN human rights office and ensure a fair election.¶¶¶
- Political prisoners in Venezuela: the resolution demands their release and guarantees for their safety and rights.
- EEAS, member states and the EU Delegation to Venezuela: asked to support scrutiny, human rights defenders and civil society.¶
- UN Human Rights Council: called on to renew the Fact-Finding Mission mandate.¶
Figures and deadlines
- over 15,800 politically motivated arrests in Venezuela since 2014¶
- over 260 political prisoners still detained, including 126 in pre-trial detention
- Rocío San Miguel arrested on February 9; whereabouts unknown until 15 February¶
- General Héctor Armando Hernández Da Costa detained since August 13, 2018; transferred to "El Rodeo I" prison on 19 February¶
- on 9 January 2024, the National Assembly resumed consideration of a bill on non-governmental organisations¶
- on 15 February, the Venezuelan government announced suspension of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights activities¶
- UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela mandate up for renewal in September 2024¶
- presidential election called for 28 July 2024¶