“We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on being introduced because the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,” stated OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan.
“This recognition displays the clear aspirations of the individuals of Venezuela without spending a dime and honest elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of legislation. The Excessive Commissioner has persistently spoken out in assist of those values.”
The 58-year-old activist who was barred from working in final 12 months’s presidential elections, lives in hiding inside Venezuela and was briefly detained after attending an opposition rally in January. She was quickly launched reportedly following worldwide strain.
Ms. Machado thanked the Nobel committee for the honour saying it was the “achievement of a complete society…I’m only one particular person. I definitely don’t deserve this.”
Opposition figures held incommunicado
Sturdy proof of great restrictions on civic freedoms in Venezuela has been documented in quite a few reviews mandated by the Human Rights Council.
Earlier this 12 months, unbiased human rights investigators reporting to the Council in Geneva urged the authorities to cease the reported apply of holding political opponents incommunicado.
They insisted that these “focused detentions” have been unlawful and amounted to enforced disappearance, a significant human rights violation if proved and probably a global crime.
The Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has additionally persistently expressed considerations about alleged abuses within the Latin American nation.
In December 2024, Mr. Türk highlighted the “disproportionate use of drive and violence” throughout post-electoral protests earlier within the 12 months, “together with by armed people supporting the federal government” that resulted in not less than 28 deaths.
In July, the Venezuelan Nationwide Meeting declared Mr. Türk and OHCHR employees persona non grata, successfully barring UN human rights work there.
Common rights
Talking to journalists in Geneva, Mr. Al-Kheetan burdened that OHCHR sought to interact with the Authorities of Venezuela and all different stakeholders.
“We stay firmly dedicated to proceed working to defend and defend the human rights of all Venezuelans, whether or not they’re in Venezuela or overseas, and based mostly after all on data and with the victims on the centre of our work,” he stated.
“The underside line right here is that we’d like extra engagement with the authorities,” he continued, noting that the Nationwide Meeting of Venezuela had regretfully voted in favour of declaring the Excessive Commissioner persona non grata.
