We welcome the High Commissioner's update. We urge the Maduro regime to grant the OHCHR full, unfettered access to the entire country, including mining areas with extremely concerning labour conditions, violence, and environmental situations.
We deplore alarmingly regular attacks against human rights defenders, media representatives, and humanitarian actors in Venezuela. Stigmatisation of civil society and measures impeding international support must stop immediately. We continue to support initiatives promoting democratic values and human rights.
We welcome the visit of a Special Rapporteur to Venezuela and hope that other Special Procedures representatives, for instance on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and on health, are also invited to visit. We note the Special Rapporteur's suggestion that the UK government should unfreeze assets held in the Bank of England. It is important to note that the Bank of England is independent, and that the UK government is not party to proceedings relating to these assets. We also note that UK sanctions are targeted only against individuals.
We welcome progress on humanitarian solutions to enable Venezuela's participation in Covax. Vaccine distribution within Venezuela must be depoliticised, equitable, and based on need.
What action should the international community take in response to attacks against human rights defenders in Venezuela?
