OEA/Ser.L/V/II.                                                                                                pdf. format
Doc. 54

30 December 2009

Original: Spanish

DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN VENEZUELA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I.        INTRODUCTION

II.       POLITICAL RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE

A.      The right to participate in the conduct of public affairs and to vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections

B.       The right to access, under general conditions of equality, the service of one’s country

C.       The exercise of political rights without discrimination

D.       The right to peaceful protest

E.       Recommendations

III.      INDEPENDENCE AND SEPARATION OF PUBLIC POWERS

A.       The right to an independent judiciary 

B.       The delegation of legislative powers to the executive branch

C.       Recommendations

IV.      FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION 

A.       The compatibility of the current legal framework in relation to freedom of expression with the obligations of the State under the American Convention

B.       The use of blanket presidential broadcasts (cadenas presidenciales)

C.       Statements by high-ranking state authorities against communications media and journalists based on their editorial line

D.       Disciplinary, administrative, and criminal proceedings against communications media and journalists

E.       Regulation of the radio broadcasting spectrum and the application of dispositions on broadcasting 

F.       Grave violations of the rights to life and personal integrity based on the victims’ exercise of freedom of expression 

G.       Recommendations

V.       THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

A.       Association for the promotion and defense of human rights

B.       Obstacles to the work of defending human rights

C.       Recommendations 

VI.      THE RIGHT TO LIFE, TO HUMANE TREATMENT, AND TO PERSONAL LIBERTY AND SECURITY

A.       Violence and citizen security

B.       Violence in prisons

C.       Violence against women

D.       Recommendations

VII.     ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

A.       Normative framework for the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights

B.       Economic, social, and cultural rights indicators in Venezuela

C.       The role of the missions as an axis of social policy

D.       Cultural rights and rights of the indigenous peoples

E.       Trade union rights

F.       Recommendations

VIII.    CONCLUSIONS

IX.      RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEX - Questionnaire for the analysis of the situation of human rights in Venezuela