The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has declared the accordance with the Constitution of the draft partial reform of the «Constitutional Law Against Hatred, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance».
The ruling, identified as number 1,034 (case file 26-1387), allows the National Assembly to proceed with the discussion and approval of the legal text.
This pronouncement by the highest court follows an initiative presented by the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, and submitted by the President of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez.
The proposal seeks to decriminalize certain behaviors, correct misapplications of the law, and modify its denomination as «Law for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance.» During the process, the dignitary publicly acknowledged that the legislation, approved in November 2017, had been subject to abusive use on its implementation.
To coordinate these changes, the leadership of the Legislative Branch installed a special commission composed of 11 deputies and chaired by the First Vice President of the National Assembly, Pedro Infante.
Meanwhile, various professional associations and human rights organizations, among those the National Union of Press Workers and the National College of Journalists, have requested the repeal of the sanctions, arguing that they threaten freedom of expression. Meanwhile the NGOs Foro Penal and Cecodap have raised concerns regarding the hundreds of adults and adolescents who have been charged under the provisions of this legislation.