“We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan.
“This recognition reflects the clear aspirations of the Venezuelan people for free and fair elections, civil and political rights and the rule of law. The High Commissioner has always spoken out in favor of these values.”
The 58-year-old activist, who was unable to run in last year’s presidential elections, has been living in hiding in Venezuela and was briefly detained after attending an opposition rally in January. She was quickly released, apparently following international pressure.
Ms. Machado thanked the Nobel committee for the honor, saying it was “the accomplishment of an entire society…I’m just one person. I certainly don’t deserve this.”
Opposition figures held incommunicado
Strong evidence of serious restrictions on civil liberties in Venezuela has been documented in numerous reports commissioned by the Human Rights Council.
Earlier this year, independent human rights investigators reported to the Council in Geneva exhorted authorities to end the reported practice of holding political opponents incommunicado.
They insisted that these “targeted detentions» were illegal and amounted to enforced disappearance, a major human rights violation if proven and potentially an international crime.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has also consistently expressed concerns over allegations of abuse in the Latin American nation.
In December 2024, Mr. Türk highlighted the “disproportionate use of force and violence» during the post-election demonstrations at the beginning of the year, “in particular by armed individuals supporting the government” which left at least 28 dead.
In July, the Venezuelan National Assembly declared Mr. Türk and OHCHR staff persona non grata, banning UN human rights work in that country.
Universal rights
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Mr. Al-Kheetan stressed that OHCHR seeks to engage with the Government of Venezuela and all other stakeholders.
“We remain firmly committed to continuing to work to defend and protect the human rights of all Venezuelans, whether in Venezuela or abroad, and of course based on information and placing victims at the center of our work,” he said.
“The main thing here is that we need more engagement with the authorities“, he continued, noting that the National Assembly of Venezuela had reluctantly voted in favor of the High Commissioner’s declaration persona non grata.
The rest follows this story…
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
