UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on U.S. intervention in Venezuela

Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights spokesperson, made the following comments at the bi-weekly press briefing of the United Nations on the United States’ intervention in Venezuela.

“We are deeply worried about the situation in Venezuela following the U.S. military operation over the weekend. It is clear that the operation undermined a fundamental principle of international law – that States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State,” Shamdasani said.

“The U.S. has justified its intervention on the grounds of the Venezuelan Government’s longstanding and appalling human rights record, but accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law. The people of Venezuela deserve accountability through a fair, victim-centred process,” she said.

“As has been clear in the UN Human Rights Office’s consistent reporting on the continued deterioration of the situation in Venezuela for about a decade, the rights of the Venezuelan people have been violated for too long. We fear that the current instability and further militarization in the country resulting from the U.S. intervention will only make the situation worse,” Shamdasani said.

“The state of emergency declared by the Venezuelan authorities that took effect on Saturday is especially worrying as it authorizes restrictions on free movement of people, the seizure of property necessary for national defence, and the suspension of the right to assembly and to protest, among other measures,” she said.

“UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk calls on the U.S. and the Venezuelan authorities, as well as the international community, to ensure full respect for international law, including human rights.”

“The future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone, with full respect for their human rights, including the right to self-determination, and sovereignty over their lives and their resources,” Shamdasani said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact

In Geneva:

Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org 

Marta Hurtado +41 22 917 9466 /marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Jeremy Laurence : +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org