Human rights in Venezuela.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: OAS - Brief Article

THE INTER-AMERICAN Commission on Human Rights visited Venezuela from May 6 to 10, at the invitation of the government. Although the on-site visit had been planned for more than two years, it was dominated by the fallout from the recent political crisis.

At the close of the visit, the Commission underscored its concern about the continuing lack of trust throughout Venezuelan society. While it welcomed President Hugo Chavez's initiative for a national dialogue, the Commission said the government's process was not sufficiently inclusive. It also called on members of the opposition to abandon their fierce partisanship and participate in a productive "democratic discussion."

Commission chairman Juan Mendez called the situation in Venezuela "disheartening," due to the deep-seated animosity between different political camps.

"Although there is an ongoing attempt at a dialogue, the attitude towards the dialogue by all actors is less promising than we had expected to see," he said.

The Commission also stressed the need for a "complete, impartial, and objective investigation" of the violence that took place between April 11 and 14. "It is worth noting that nearly a month after these events, the exact number of fatal victims is not known, nor the exact circumstances of their deaths,"...