The UK welcomes this opportunity to interact with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Venezuela, and we welcome the work and efforts of the High Commissioner and her office.
The UK remains seriously concerned at the deteriorating human rights situation in Venezuela. Actions of the Maduro regime have led to social and economic collapse, threatening regional stability and security. It is a man-made humanitarian crisis exacerbated by years of economic mismanagement, hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine, and serious human rights violations.
The arrest and trial of National Assembly Deputy Juan Requesens is a clear violation of legal due process with regards to his parliamentary immunity.
As a member of the Human Rights Council, Venezuela has a duty to uphold the highest standards of human rights and cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms including Fact Finding Missions.
We welcome the establishment of an OHCHR office in Caracas; however, it is clear that the two members of OHCHR staff in Caracas face an enormous task. A situation of such gravity would normally demand a fully-fledged permanent OHCHR office (and we would be interested to know what plans OHCHR has to increase its presence/size in Venezuela).
Finally, we welcome the appointment of the members of the Fact Finding Mission, and would be interested to understand the parameters of their work. We urge the regime to cooperate with the FFM.
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