UN human rights chief ‘hopeful’ Venezuelan authorities ready to address violations

Ms. Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights (Introduction of the Report)
Under Agenda Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.
“The only way out of this crisis is to come together, in dialogue”: that was the clear message delivered by Michelle Bachelet, the UN human rights chief, to the Government of Venezuela on Friday, during an address to the Human Rights Council, coinciding with the publication of a new UN report on Venezuela.
The report, published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), was mandated by the Human Rights Council, in response to longstanding concerns by Member States.
In her statement, Ms. Bachelet said that her team had conducted a “technical visit” to Venezuela in March; and made nine visits to interview Venezuelan refugees and migrants based in several South American countries, as well as Spain.
She recounted her ground-breaking mission to the country two weeks ago, to meet senior officials and politicians, including President Nicolás Maduro, and President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim President in January, sparking the latest unresolved political crisis to beset the oil-rich Latin American nation. She also met members of civil society and heard testimony from victims of grave human rights violations.
Read More: