Chairwoman Heidi Hautala wrote to the Ambassador of Venezuela regarding the human rights situation in Venezuela.[:]

Dear Ambassador,
 
On behalf of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, I express deep concern over the information that we have received concerning the threats by the Office of Attorney General of Venezuela and acts of criminalisation by the Government officials of the non-governmental organisation Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Events of February and March 1989, COFAVIC (Comité de Familiares de vnictimas de los Sucesos de Febrero y Marzo de 1989).
 
It is greatly alarming that around the twentieth anniversary of the “Caracazo”, the protest by the people from Caracas and other communities that was suppressed by violent measures by the Government and which led to the creation of COFAVIC, the attacks against the organisation appears to have intensified. Incorrect and delegitimizing comments have been made by the government officials and as far as I have learned, no attempts have been made to rectify these statements.
 
The Members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Venezuela and the authorities’ commitment to support the work of non-governmental organisations and civil society representatives. I urge the Venezuelan authorities to enable and actively support COFAVIC in its work to protect and promote human rights in Venezuela.
 
I also call the Venezuelan authorities to fully cooperate with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and fully respect the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the 85th General Assembly on 9th December 1998, which acknowledges the valuable work of groups and associations in contributing to the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and stresses that the prime responsibility and duty to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms lie with the State.
 
I would welcome the opportunity to hear from you on your Government’s response to my serious concerns.
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
 
Heidi HAUTALA