Bolivarian Government of Venezuela
Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Office of The Deputy Minister for Africa
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Kenya Concurrent to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia
Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP)and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (ONU Habitat).
weeklynewsletter VOL. 1: ISSUE. 18, 20TH JULY 2015
Venezuela Announces 4-Years Human Rights Plan Inside this issue 1. Venezuela announces 4-Years Human Rights Plan 2. Maduro: “Mercosur has a new social stance” -Maduro: The path of the Mercosur should be integration with the BRICS 3. Venezuela celebrates Iran's victory to continue developing nuclear program 4. Southern Integration! Venezuela and Uruguay will strengthen trade relations
Venezuela announced on 7th July a four year plan to improve human rights, including institutional reform and better coordination with social movements. Announced by Vice President Jorge Arreaza and Security Vice President Carmen Melendez, the 2015-2019 National Plan for Human Rights aims to consolidate Venezuela’s progress in promoting human rights. “Human rights are indivisible,” Arreaza stated. According to Arreaza, the new human rights plan will focus on promoting a “culture of human rights.” The plan will also involve strengthening existing human rights institutions. Arreaza praised the plan as a continuation of the vision of 19th century South American liberation fighter Simon Bolivar, arguing the initiative will be a historic step towards a more just society. He added that the plan is an expression of the governments’ philosophy of human rights, which includes a commitment to ensuring all Venezuelans have access to basic necessities like housing, work, food and healthcare. “Here are the human rights, cultural, educational … the right to work, the right to land,” he said. Arreaza also extended an invitation to social movements and nongovernmental human rights groups to work with institutions to better promote human rights.
In terms of concrete proposals, the plan seeks to establish a national human rights institute, make human rights a key theme in the education of teachers, strengthen higher education programs in human rights, raise consciousness regarding mother earth as a subject of human rights, among other goals. The plan also extends the mandate of the newly created National Council for Human Rights, which was formed in 2014. According to a statement from the government, the new four year plan is the result of extensive consultation between state officials in Caracas and representatives of the Union of South American Nations regional bloc, who visited Caracas in 2014. Among the key recommendations of the international representatives were a series of advisories aimed at promoting dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition groups. Within this plans, Arreaza said, “Venezuela has accepted the valid recommendations.” Ahead of the plan’s official launch, President Nicolas Maduro said the project was also formed through discussion with the public and human rights advocates.
continuation: “It’s a plan that began several years ago … and a proposal submitted to public consultation (in a) socialist democracy,” he said. The announcement of the four year plan comes as Venezuela passes the half-way point in its time as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The South American nation was elected to take a seat at the council in 2012, marking the first time Venezuela has sat on the council – something Caracas says is emblematic of the progress it has made in promoting human rights. At the time, Venezuela’s representative to the U.N., Jorge Valero, said Venezuela had made major strides in human rights since the 1990s.
“This is a demonstration of the strength of the (Bolivarian) revolution in the world, and the successful state policies to protect the human rights of all Venezuelans without exception,” Valero said at the time. Before it is approved in its final form, the plan will be subject to extensive consultation, first by the general public via the web, then by Venezuelan human rights organizations of all political stripes, and finally by the President of the Republic. www.hoyvenezuela.info
Maduro: “Mercosur has a new social stance” During his speech at the 48° Mercosur Summit, president Maduro said “ I attended several Mercosur meetings as Venezuelan deputy and Foreign Affairs Minister. Now, in my role as Head of State, I see the progress reached in the organization.” In the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasilia, Maduro said “we hold a great meeting with Mercosur presidents and members, in which we talked about the regional progress despite the complex circumstances.” Maduro talked about Venezuela’s trade ties with the region and highlighted the recent food agreement signed President Maduro also thanked next with Uruguay. Unasur meeting to discuss about Venezuela-Guyana territorial dispute, which will take place next The president also thanked the support given by August. the Mercosur countries members with Venezuela “to increase the commerce and overcome the economic war www.hoyvenezuela.info that affect us.”
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Maduro: The path of the Mercosur should be integration with the BRICS Upon his arrival in Brazil to participate in the 48th Summit of Heads of State of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, said that the path of this block is its integration in all aspects with the BRICS group, to build a new comprehensive economic vision of South America and the Caribbean, through a joint from inside out. “The path of Mercosur should be the BRICS, the BRICS bank, the BRICS reserve fund, the big market with BRICS, the economic and technological integration with BRICS. That is our north, beyond our borders, building a powerful business investment economic zone within south america, within Latin America, within the Caribbean, and for that, we will join the experiences of the giant Brazil and we, the liberator peoples” stressed President Maduro.
He reiterated that one of the approaches of Venezuela at the summit will be to emphasize the final revival of the South Bank and the creation of a reserve and financing fund of the South. In addition, the Head of State said that this summit has as premises to strengthen the political trust of respect for the political processes of each one of the countries, and the joint defense of the nations attacked by foreign interferences. “Venezuela is an attacked country, under a constant harassment by imperialism and some agents of imperialism. We come to thank you for all the solidarity, and to strengthen MERCOSUR, which is our north, is our path, we will remain committed to its transformation and its greatness” he said. www.rnv.gob.ve
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Venezuela celebrates Iran's victory to continue developing nuclear program Caracas, 16 Jul. AVN.- Through an official statement released on Wednesday, Venezuela and the government of President Nicolas Maduro, celebrated the victory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to continue developing its nuclear program for peaceful purposes. In the letter, Venezuela expresses its joy for the result favorable to the Iranian people, after talks with representatives of the P5+1, and ratifies its support for the dialogue under the adherence to international law as the only way to reach agreements. Venezuela also reiterated its rejection of unilateral sanctions imposed on a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a measure against the sovereign will of nations. www.avn.info.ve
Southern Integration! Venezuela and Uruguay will strengthen trade relations The President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, said on Thursday that will strengthen bilateral relations with the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and will enhance the commercial area.
addition, we will increase to a record level, all the trade that will greatly help our country to overcome this economic war that we have�, said President Maduro.
This was announced by the Head of State from Brazil, a country to which he arrived to participate in the 48th Summit of Heads of State of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).
It is noteworthy that the governments of Venezuela and Uruguay, have active an import agreement towards our country of 265,000 tons of Uruguayan food, a decision taken by the Government to combat the economic war and guarantee the people the supply of staple items.
“We will start a new era of relations with Uruguay, of cooperation, solidarity, complementarity, support. They are supporting us to improve our production of milk and meat. In addition, we will increase to a record level, all the
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