UN High Commissioner and Nicolás Maduro assess the human rights situation in Venezuela

The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroand the High Commissioner for HIM for the Human rightsVolker Türk, met this Friday in Caracas to assess the situation in this matter, after an invitation from the government itself.

The meeting, held at the Miraflores presidential palace, was private and ended without statements.

Images from the state channel VTV showed the arrival of the High Commissioner at the presidential palace where he was received by the president; his wife, Cilia Flores, and Foreign Minister Yván Gil.

Türk, for his part, was accompanied by several UN representatives in Venezuela.

The High Commissioner’s work agenda has included, since his arrival on Thursday, meetings with NGOs, representatives of civil society groups and victims who insisted on denouncing “systematic violations.”

Ninety NGOs asked to “strengthen” the work on the protection of human rights.

It is necessary to “raise your voice, publicly and at the highest level (…) and reinforce joint work to prevent and definitively stop the serious violations that continue to occur in Venezuela in a systematic way,” said the onegés.

The government authorities, for their part, insist on denouncing the impact of the US economic sanctionsand reiterated their position of working under “constructive dialogue.”

“In the framework of the visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, we reiterate our position for constructive dialogue under the respect and protection of the human rights of our people,” the head of Parliament said on Twitter. Jorge Rodríguez, after a meeting.

The High Commissioner also met with the chancellor; the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez; Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.

He plans to leave the country on Saturday, when a statement on his visit is expected, which is part of “solidarity, dialogue and action.”

Türk’s predecessor, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, installed a commission in Venezuela in 2019 to monitor and provide assistance in the human rights situation amid a wave of complaints from victims of rape and torture by state security forces. .

In her last report in office, Bachelet noted that she saw progress in the area of ​​rights in Venezuela, although she indicated that there was still “more to do.”