Venezuela: End attacks and violence against journalists, media and protesters
Photo: Jonathan Mishkin (Shutterstock)
‘At a crucial moment for Venezuela and the full exercise of human rights, the respect and guarantee of freedom of expression, opinion and assembly, as well as free access to information, must be a priority, along with the protection of journalists, cultural workers, as well as writers, artists and all those actors who contribute to an open debate, which is necessary for any society. Timely and accurate information is the key to peace in contexts as complex as Venezuela.’ - said Burhan Sonmez, President of PEN International.
2 August 2024 - PEN International condemns the escalation of violence in Venezuela following the disputed presidential election on 28 July 2024, including the disproportionate use of force by Venezuelan security forces. Since then, there have been multiple reports of attacks on journalists, with the Venezuelan authorities preventing them from covering the protests, subjecting them to arbitrary detentions and direct threatening them for writing about the election or ensuing protests.
International and national organisations such as the Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad Venezuela (IPYS) reported at least 41 press freedom violations on 28 July 2024, including restrictions on access to information and physical or verbal attacks on journalists.
The announcement of Nicolás Maduro's re-election, according to partial results announced by the electoral council led to massive public protests, with at least 1,200 people arrested and at least 17 people killed, at the time of writing.
In the days that followed, several websites of civil society organisations, media and digital platforms were blocked, and physical attacks were documented, including shots fired at journalists' homes and arbitrary arrests.
Journalist Jesús Romero of the news website Código Urbe was shot and wounded while covering the protests on 29 July in the city of Maracay; the car of Gabriel Rodríguez of Noticias Neveri was also set on fire. At least three journalists are known to have been arrested. The civil society organisation Espacio Público recorded at least 16 violations of press freedom and 20 complaints of aggression during the 30 July protests.
On 30 July, the Venezuelan authorities announced that an Organic Law for Hate Crimes on Social Networks, which could be aimed at silencing criticism of those in power in Venezuela, was being prepared as a matter of urgency.
As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Venezuela is obliged to respect its international obligations and uphold fundamental freedoms.
PEN International notes a clear deterioration in the right to freedom of expression and other fundamental rights in Venezuela, including cultural rights, and urges the Venezuelan authorities to:
Stop all attacks, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests of journalists and blocking of media outlets.
Ensure the safety of journalists covering protests and post-election violence.
Respect and guarantee human rights in the country, including the right to freedom of expression, peaceful protest, association and access to information and the Internet; repeal all laws that impede freedom of expression and deprive the people of Venezuela from exercising their freedom of thought.
Consider and implement recommendations on freedom of expression made by independent national and international human rights organisations.
End the practice of persecution and prosecution of media that criticise the official line.
Note to Editors:
For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, at PEN International, email: alicia.quinones@pen-international.org