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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) today presented its report "Democratic Institutions, the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Venezuela" in Geneva, Switzerland. Commissioner Joel Hernández and Executive Secretary Paulo Abrão were in charge of the presentation, with opening remarks by Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The event was organized by the IACHR and took place at the Palace of Nations (Palais des Nations), in Geneva. It was held on Thursday, March 15, parallel to the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.

The report addresses the situation of human rights in Venezuela, analyzing the impact that the weakening of democratic institutions in the country has had on them. The report is organized around four main axes, which represent the central concerns of the IACHR regarding the country: democratic institutions; social protest and freedom of expression; violence and citizen security; and economic, social, cultural and environmental rights (DESCA). It also has a transversal analysis of the specific violations that people, groups and collectives face due to their condition of greater risk, and historical discrimination and exclusion, such as women; girls, boys and adolescents; older adults; human rights defenders; people deprived of liberty; migrants; and refugees or in a similar situation; among others.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 050/18