No human rights in Venezuela

[Bacchus4.0]

http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/121124/no-human-rights-in-venezuela

Everyday, eleven citizens who live in the Metropolitan area of the capital city will not be lucky enough to come back home or will be killed in their own homes. The same prediction is applicable for 53 Venezuelan citizens from other cities.

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The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes places Venezuela as one of the countries with the highest violence rate in the world. In 1995, Venezuela's murder rate was 12 homicides per one hundred thousand habitants, whereas in 2011, we reached the leading places with a number of 45.1 homicides per one hundred thousand habitants. Nevertheless, the number provided by the UN is quite conservative, if we take into consideration that this organization bases its data by establishing an average in the data estimated by the NGOs and the official state-run organizations. In contrast, the National Statistics Institute (INE) records a much higher rate for 2011. According to its calculations, Venezuela recorded 75 homicides per every one hundred thousand habitants. "This is insane" upholds the president of NGO Cofavic a human rights advocate. The expert indicates that the UN considers a rate above 10 as an "epidemic."

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In 2011, the Attorney General's Office received 8,813 new cases of human rights violations. They officially assume that these are denounced cases. Then, what happens? Well simply put that, 97% ended up dismissed and stored in prosecutor files, which constitutes a rising 4%. In this sense, only 3% was taken to court, but there are not numbers of conviction. "This shows a trend to reduce justice in Venezuela," Ortega points out.

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Another aspect highlighted in the report provided by Cofavic before the Inter-American Commission is the participation of police officers in the so-called extrajudicial executions. The Venezuelan Government estimates that between 20 % and 25 % of the police officers have been involved in criminal activities. In the same sense, the very Public Ministry indicates that between 2000 and 2008, a number of 1,000 annual cases of deaths due to abuse of authority were recorded. In the meantime, in 2010, the very Ministry of Interior and Justice recorded 3,492 cases of killings perpetrated by the police.

It is worth noting that these rising deaths are not added to the homicide numbers, as most cases are identified as "resisting arrest."

[Peace Patriot]

1. That's a false headline. El Universal = the Faux News of Latin America.

Would you say the same thing about Oakland, CA, or Miami, FLA--that there are "no human rights" in Oakland or Miami because they have high murder rates?

NO human rights?!

No, you wouldn't. Human rights cover a lot more issues than security. Food. Shelter. Medical care. Right to educational opportunity. Right to a job and a living wage. Right to participate in public affairs. Right to vote.

There is a REASON why Venezuelans rank their own country fifth in the world in the Gallup Wellness Poll (measure of current well-being and future prospects). It's because, on all of these other issues--food, shelter, medical care, educational opportunities, employment rate, living wage, civil rights and public participation--Venezuela has excelled, under the Chavez government. All indicators are up. They have a problem with violent crime, yes. But Venezuelans understand that all other human rights are secured or improving. That's why they re-elected the Chavez government!

In fact, on most criteria, Venezuelans are doing a lot better than many people in Oakland, Miami and other places in the U.S., who suffer way disproportionate imprisonment rates, endemic poverty, brutal cops, de facto segregation and rotten schools. Venezuela was designated "THE most equal country in Latin America" on income distribution, by the UN Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean. They are working hard on the problems of poverty and exclusion. We are not. They are also working hard on public access to TV/radio broadcasting (non-profit community stations). Even on that classic civil right--free speech--they are doing far better than we are. Our public access is greatly diminishing. Theirs is greatly accelerating.

"No human rights in Venezuela" is an absurdity and a lie.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. much of the article discusses the lack of human rights cases prosecution

and the deaths due to security forces. We already know about not charging inmates and bringing them to trial thanks to a completely inept juidicial system.

anyway, if you don't like the headline you can respond to el universal. They have a comment section. You can tell Venezuelans how wonderful their government is there.