The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterated its position against unilateral coercive measures during the 60th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva. The national delegation actively participated in multiple forums of the multilateral organization to present the effects of these sanctions.
At the panel of the Non-Aligned Countries Movement (NAM), the Venezuelan delegation detailed that since 2014 measures contrary to the UN Charter have been applied. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that these sanctions «are applied as weapons of war that directly affect the enjoyment of all human rights of entire populations,» calling them crimes against humanity.
During the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the impact of coercive measures, Alena Douhan, the Venezuelan delegation reported on the various aggressions by the United States government. These include international smear campaigns and the disregard for legitimately constituted institutions that, according to the Chancellory, «reach an unprecedented level of threats, especially following the deployment of US military forces in the Caribbean.»
Additionally, the Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the UN in Geneva reaffirmed its condemnation before the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. In all forums, the delegation stressed the illegality of the measures imposed by the United States and the European Union, which violate international law and affect the sovereign development of the nation.
Venezuela’s participation in this important international forum consolidates the peace diplomacy promoted by the Bolivarian Government and demonstrates its commitment to defending the self-determination of peoples against unilateral coercive actions.