CARACAS, Jan 29 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (DDHH), Volker Türk, stressed that it is evident that the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Venezuela in 2017 aggravated the economic crisis in the country.
When presenting to the press this Saturday the balance of three days of work with the different actors in society, the official pointed out that his Office once again recommended that the Member States (in reference to the United States) suspend or lift the sanctions, which “have a detrimental effect on human rights”.
We ask this with respect to the unilateral coercive measures imposed on other countries as well, he stressed.
Türk commented that, in dialogue with people, including UN actors and agencies, he was able to verify the impact of punitive measures on the difficult acquisition of basic products such as medicines, especially among the most vulnerable segments of the population.
According to data provided by the Venezuelan government, in recent years the United States and its allies imposed 928 unilateral coercive measures on the Bolivarian Republic, with multi-million dollar economic losses, which had a criminal impact on society and the economy.
The High Commissioner stated that he had listened to the positions of the parties involved in the dialogue table in Mexico and reiterated his Office’s support for the talks to continue.
I urged them, he remarked, to listen to each other and engage in meaningful dialogue “to find a common vision for the future.”
Türk did not deny the pitfalls along the way, saying that “engagement and positive dialogue” can forge a path around obstacles. In this regard, he indicated that his Office is ready and available to build bridges between State institutions and the opposition, and offer “our perspective and experience in the field of human rights,” as well as guarantee that the discourse is depoliticized and not manipulated.
The UN representative expressed the strong appreciation of the people with whom he spoke about the work of his Office in Caracas, which began its work after the visit of Michelle Bachelet in 2019.
I am encouraged by the government’s decision to extend the team’s presence in Venezuela for another two years so that they can continue their work to promote the human rights agenda in the country, he emphasized.
