UN Human Rights Council 46: Interactive Dialogue with the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela
The UK's International Human Rights Ambassador delivered this statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela.
Thank you, Madam President.
The International Independent Fact-Finding Mission report and oral update confirm continuing accounts of extrajudicial killings which are being systematically perpetrated by the regime. We are appalled by the reports of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment, including sexual violence and psychological torture, which are being perpetrated against opponents of the regime.
We thank members of the Fact-Finding Mission for their efforts to shed light on the direct or indirect involvement of high-ranking officials in gross human rights violations. Informed by their report, the UK sanctioned three Venezuelan security officials in December 2020 under our Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.
We acknowledge the courage of the victims, witnesses, and civil society organisations who contributed to the Mission’s investigation. The United Kingdom will continue to support an independent and diverse civil society, and oppose the regime’s abuses of power.
We urge Venezuela to carry out prompt, independent, and impartial investigations into all human rights violations documented in the report, to ensure accountability for perpetrators, and to provide justice and reparations for victims.
Since the publication of the first report, has the Fact-Finding Mission encountered additional difficulties or impediments from the regime in the compilation of the second report?
Thank you.