UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Venezuela

Venezuela UN News Centre - Venezuela https://news.un.org/en/tags/venezuela International Donors Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants 26 May 2020 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/79328/donors-conference-solidarityvenezuelan-refugees-and-migrants-countries-region-amid-covid-19_en

‘Harmonized’ plan launched to support millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants (13 November 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/11/1051271 3 things to know on Venezuela's humanitarian situation (22 September 2019): https://www.unocha.org/story/3-things-know-venezuelas-humanitarian-situation UN agencies welcome regional road map to help integrate ‘continuing exodus of Venezuelans’ (8 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1042041

UN Entities •

United Nations in Venezuela (FAO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO/OMS) http://onu.org.ve/ [SP]

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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Venezuela https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/lacregion/pages/veindex.aspx o o

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Comment by UN Rights Office Spokesperson Marta Hurtado on Venezuela (14 January 2021): https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26660 Oral update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (25 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26295 Oral update on the human rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (14 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26229 Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the pardon of 110 in Venezuela (1 September 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26198 Introduction of the report on the independence of the justice system, access to justice and the situation of human rights in the Arco Minero del Orinoco in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela - Statement by Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, 44th session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva, 15 July 2020: https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26097 Venezuela: High Commissioner Bachelet details plans for new human rights assistance (18 December 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25438 UN Human Rights Office and Venezuelan Government sign Memorandum of Understanding (23 September 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25040

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UN Human Rights presence in Venezuela (21 June 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24722 UN Human Rights Office technical team to visit Venezuela (7 March 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24287 Human rights violations in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: a downward spiral with no end in sight (June 2018): https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/VE/VenezuelaReport2018_EN.pdf Human rights violations and abuses in the context of protests in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1 April to 31 July 2017: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/VE/HCReportVenezuela_1April31July2017_EN.pdf

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Venezuela Situation https://www.unhcr.org/venezuela-emergency.html o

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US$1.44 billion needed to support refugees and migrants from Venezuela amid COVID-19 Joint UNHCR-IOM Press Release (10 December 2020): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/12/5fd1e4c14/ Urgent support needed as COVID-19 inflicts hardship on refugees and migrants from Venezuela - Joint UNHCR-IOM Press Release (12 May 2020): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/5/5ebaa2ef4/ Refugees and migrants from Venezuela during COVID-19 crisis: as needs soar more inclusive measures and aid are essential Joint UNHCR-IOM Press Release (1 April 2020): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/4/5e844e354/ UNHCR welcomes Brazil’s decision to recognize thousands of Venezuelans as refugees (6 December 2019): https://bit.ly/2Fpa68T Solidarity Conference Calls for Action as Venezuelans Depart in Droves: Joint Press Release by the European Union, UNHCR and IOM (23 October 2019): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/10/5db00d364/ Latin American countries agree road map for integration of Venezuelans (Joint UNHCR-IOM Press Release, 8 July 2019): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/7/5d230a254/ Refugees and migrants from Venezuela top 4 million: UNHCR and IOM (7 June 2019): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/6/5cfa2a4a4/ Majority fleeing Venezuela in need of refugee protection – UNHCR (21 May 2019): https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2019/5/5ce3bb734/ Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (January–December 2019): https://data2.unhcr.org/es/documents/download/67282 UNHCR Guidance Note on the Outflow of Venezuelans (March 2018): https://data2.unhcr.org/es/documents/download/63243

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United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) https://www.unocha.org/venezuela o ReliefWeb - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of): https://reliefweb.int/country/ven

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International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Venezuela https://www.iom.int/countries/venezuela

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World Food Programme (WFP) o

Venezuela Food Security Assessment (24 February 2020): https://www.wfp.org/news/venezuela-food-security-assessment, https://reliefweb.int/report/venezuela-bolivarian-republic/wfp-venezuela-food-securityassessment-main-findings-data

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UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) Border Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela https://dppa.un.org/en/mission/border-controversy-between-guyana-and-venezuela

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International Court of Justice (ICJ) - Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/171

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Security Council •

Meetings in 2020: 20 May, 28 April - The situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Meeting records, press releases and resolutions: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/meetings-2020-vtc http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2020

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Meetings in 2019: 10 April, 28, 26 February, 26 January - The situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Meeting records, press releases and resolutions: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2019 o

Competing United States, Russian Federation Draft Resolutions on political, humanitarian situation in Venezuela blocked in Security Council (SC/13725, 28 February 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sc13725.doc.htm

Human Rights Council • •

President of Human Rights Council appoints Members of Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (2 December 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25376 Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/FFMV/Pages/Index.aspx

Selected UN Documents • • • • •

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A/HRC/RES/45/20: Situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 6 October 2020: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/45/20 A/HRC/RES/45/2: Strengthening cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela : resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 6 October 2020: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/45/2 A/HRC/45/33 (25 September 2020): Report of the independent international factfinding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/45/33 A/HRC/45/CRP.11 (16 September 2020): Detailed findings of the Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFMV/A_HRC_45_CRP.11.pdf A/HRC/44/54 (29 September 2020): Independence of the justice system and access to justice in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including for violations of economic and social rights, and the situation of human rights in the Arco Minero del Orinoco region: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/54 A/HRC/44/20 (17 September 2020): Outcomes of the investigation into allegations of possible violations of the human rights to life, liberty, and physical and moral integrity in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela : report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/20 Submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 42/4; covers the period 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020.

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S/2020/457 (29 May 2020): Letter dated 28 May 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2020/457 Draws attention, on behalf of Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany, to the outcome of the International Donors Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Madrid, 26 May 2020

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S/2020/435 (27 May 2020): Letter dated 22 May 2020 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General and the Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2020/435 Transmits copy of the briefing by the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and of the statements delivered by the representatives of Belgium, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States and Viet Nam, in connection with the video-teleconference on the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, convened on 20 May 2020.

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A/HRC/RES/42/25: Situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2019: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/42/25 A/HRC/RES/42/4: Strengthening cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 26 September 2019: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/42/4 A/HRC/41/18/Add.1 (5 July 2019): Report by the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Comments by the State (Unofficial translation): https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session41/Documents/A_HR C_41_18_Add.1.docx A/HRC/41/18 (5 July 2019): Human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of Human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/41/18 S/2019/345 (30 April 2019): Letter dated 25 April 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2019/345 Transmits overview of priority humanitarian needs in Venezuela, dated Mar. 2019.

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S/2019/190 (28 February 2019): Russian Federation: draft resolution: https://undocs.org/S/2019/190 – not adopted S/2019/186 (28 February 2019): United States of America: draft resolution: https://undocs.org/S/2019/186 - vetoed A/HRC/RES/39/1: Promotion and protection of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2018: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/39/1 A/HRC/39/47/Add.2 (7 September 2018): Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order on his country visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Comments by the State (Unofficial English Version): https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session39/Documents/A_HR C_39_47_Add.2.docx A/HRC/39/47/Add.1 (3 August 2018): Report of the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order on his mission to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Ecuador: note / by the Secretariat: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/39/47/Add.1 Annexes (p. 25-40): 1. List of stakeholders with whom the Independent Expert met --2. Selected reports, resolutions and statements -- 3. Acuerdo de Convivencia Democrática -- 4. Letter from José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to the opposition -- 5. Open letter from Noam Chomsky, Danny Glover and 152 others in support of mediation, not sanctions, in Venezuela -- 6. Statement from 47 human rights organizations and social movements on the declarations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on human mobility in Venezuela -- 7. Selected bibliography and electronic links.

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Further documents – click here

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UN Member States on the Record: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) https://library.un.org/unms?combine=venezuela This site provides access to information about membership and statements of Member States at the United Nations.

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Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials • • • •

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Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo calls on all main political actors in Venezuela to resume serious negotiations (20 May 2020): https://dppa.un.org/en/under-secretarygeneral-rosemary-dicarlo-calls-all-main-political-actors-venezuela-to-resume-serious Concerned by election-related events in Venezuela’s legislature, Secretary-General calls for immediate steps to lower tensions (SG/SM/19930, 6 January 2020): https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sgsm19930.doc.htm UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock: Statement on the humanitarian situation in Venezuela (6 November 2019): https://reliefweb.int/node/3382663 Oral Update on the Human Rights Situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Human Rights Council, 42nd Session, Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH ORIGINAL, 9 September 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24958 ‘Situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants needs greater global attention’: Statement by Eduardo Stein, Joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants (29 August 2019): https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/press/2019/8/5d67c6e94/ Statement by Michelle Bachelet on the recent sanctions imposed on Venezuela (8 August 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24882 Secretary-General welcomes continued negotiations to end Venezuela crisis (SG/SM/19688, 2 August 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19688.doc.htm Enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 41st session of the Human Rights Council, Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, 5 July 2019: https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24795 Meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister, Secretary-General expresses strong support for facilitation initiative on Venezuela (SG/SM/19654, 4 July 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19654.doc.htm Bachelet deeply concerned by death in custody of Captain Acosta Arévalo in Venezuela (1 July 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24770 Comment by UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado on Venezuela (1 May 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24544 Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock: Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, New York, 10 April 2019: https://reliefweb.int/node/3077973 Oral update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, 40th session of the Human Rights Council, 20 March 2019: https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24374 Security Council Briefing on Venezuela, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo, 26 February 2019: https://dppa.un.org/en/security-council-briefing-venezuela-undersecretary-general-rosemary-dicarlo Secretary-General, saddened, shocked by civilian deaths in Venezuela, urges avoidance of violence, lethal force ‘at any cost’ (SG/SM/19472, 24 February 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19472.doc.htm Bachelet condemns violence at Venezuelan borders (24 February 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24205 Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in Venezuela, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo, 26 January 2019: https://dppa.un.org/en/security-council-opendebate-situation-venezuela-under-secretary-general-rosemary-dicarlo Secretary-General calls for investigation of reported Venezuela casualties (SG/SM/19441, 24 January 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19441.doc.htm Statement by UN Human Rights Office on Venezuela jail deaths (29 March 2018): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22907 Secretary-General chooses International Court of Justice as means for peacefully settling long-standing Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy (SG/SM/18879-ICJ/630, 30 January 2018): https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sgsm18879.doc.htm

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Venezuela: Bachelet condemns killings, urges restraint and calls for dialogue to halt spiralling crisis (25 January 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24110 Secretary-General urges Venezuela political actors to seize opportunity for peaceful mediation in addressing challenges (SG/SM/18674, 12 September 2017): https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18674.doc.htm Secretary-General voices concern over developments in Venezuela, urges government, opposition to relaunch negotiations (SG/SM/18636, 8 August 2017): https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18636.doc.htm Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Venezuela (1 August 2017): https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21929 There can be no imposed solution in Venezuela, says Secretary-General, stressing political agreement, elections, respect for human rights as only way forward (SG/SM/18611, 14 July 2017): https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18611.doc.htm Concerned over rising tensions in Venezuela, Secretary-General calls for efforts to reactivate dialogue, reduce polarization (SG/SM/18496, 20 April 2017): https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18496.doc.htm

Non-UN Sources •

Security Council Report - Venezuela https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/venezuela

14 January 2021 not an official document – for information only https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-venezuela/