Head of State Nicolás Maduro denounced this Monday that, while the right of fathers and mothers to exercise the Patria Potestad (parental rights) over their children is guaranteed in the country, this guarantee is being questioned in the United States due to arbitrary deportations and the separation of Venezuelan minors from their families.
During his nationally broadcast «Con Maduro+” program, the president asked: «Who exercises parental authority in the US? Can the State take custody of their children from fathers?» The debate arose in the “Más Humanidad”(More Humanity) segment, where he spoke with human rights defenders and Venezuelan authorities working on the repatriation of migrants.
Maduro recalled that, in the past, under slave and feudal systems, children were treated as property of landowners, but with the emergence of rule of law, parental rights was vested in the parents: “This principle has been extended to the entire world, and no state should usurp this sacred right,” he stated.
He also criticized past disinformation campaigns that accused Commander Chávez’s government of wanting to strip families of parental rights: “Today, as we demand the return of Venezuelan children held in the US, we must ask: Where is the rule of law in that country? Where are the constitutional guarantees and respect for the family?” he asserted firmly.
The Venezuelan president asserted that he will not rest until the repatriation of all minors separated from their families is achieved: «We already have 29 children back, and we will continue working to ensure they all return healthy and happy, to their parents,» he concluded.