This Thursday, the president of IDENNA, Anahí Arizmendi, met with UNICEF representatives in Caracas to denounce the kidnapping of Venezuelan girl Maikelys Antonella Espinoza by the United States government.
During a press statement, the head of the Autonomous Institute of the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents of Venezuela (IDENNA) demanded a statement from the organization regarding the minor’s return to her home.
Also present were Yorely Bernal, the baby’s mother, her grandmother, and a representative from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. For his part, Arismendi emphasized that this complaint has been made since President Donald Trump implemented the Alien Enemies Act, which puts Venezuelan children, adolescents, and migrants at risk.
The Venezuelan State Protects Children:
«On this occasion, we are once again denouncing a narrative that is being used to separate Venezuelan families and the need to apply the principle of family reunification. The national government is working to activate all international instruments so that families repatriated from the US can return with their children, and so that no more cases or situations of family separation are recorded.»
As a result, IDENNA reiterated that the Venezuelan State will protect children wherever they are in the world:
«The Venezuelan State has reiterated that it will defend Venezuelan children and adolescents wherever they are; they have full protection.» Based on this, we have also been meeting permanently with all Venezuelan state agencies.»
«Free Maikelys!»:
It is worth remembering that the girl was separated from her mother a year ago, as clarified by the president of the National Institute of Human Rights (IDENNA), who described this situation as a massive violation of the rights of Venezuelans in the United States.
Meanwhile, Maikelys is being moved to various shelters, while her mother was deported to Venezuela and her father was sent to the Cecot prison in El Salvador, accused of terrorism.
Today, May 1, mass mobilizations are taking place in Venezuela under the «Free Maikelys!» slogan, with the participation of human rights organizations and families of the kidnapped people.
Finally, Venezuela is demanding her return under the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits arbitrary family separation.