HRC47 - Iceland statement - ID w High-Commissioner for Human Rights on Venezuela

Interactive dialogue with the High-Commissioner for Human Rights
on Venezuela

5 July

Statement by Iceland

Madame President,

We thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights for her efforts when it comes to the human rights situation in Venezuela and the recent report.

We continue to reiterate our concerns over the human rights situation in Venezuela. As the High Commissioner´s report outlines, reports of extrajudicial killings, credible allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and patterns of enforced disappearances underline the importance of continued attention to the human rights situation in the country.

Many of these violations can be linked to efforts to refuse ordinary citizens and opposition politicians their human rights, including civil and political rights, as tools of politically motivated repression.

Madame President,

We note once more that Venezuela is an elected member of this Council and as such should be seeking to uphold the highest standards of human rights.

An important step in that regard would be for the Venezuelan authorities to genuinely cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner, the establishment of an OHCHR country presence, and to permit country visits by Special Procedures that have requested to do so.

I thank you.