New York/The Hague, 21 March 2017

PGA wishes to express its profound concern at persistent, recent reports regarding alleged repeated failures of the Executive power of Venezuela to respect the proper functioning of the legislative branch of power as well as other actions, which appear to negatively impact the effective and independent working of the judicial branch of power.

PGA affirms that threats against the physical integrity of any parliamentary leaders and/or the launch of unfounded politically motivated charges against parliamentarians of any political parties are unacceptable and should continue to be closely monitored by the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and, as appropriate, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, as a principal and autonomous organ of the OAS and whose mission it is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere.

PGA also calls for the release of political prisoners who have been deprived of basic human rights as well as for the Government of Venezuela to move away from an apparent path of criminalizing of dissent and denial to its citizens of the benefits of democracy under the Rule of Law.

At a time of grave challenges facing the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and in order to enhance the possibilities of identifying solutions in the face of these grave threats which imperil the basic well-being of the State, its population deserve to be governed by widely accepted democratic principles of law and governance.

PGA therefore urges all Parties engaged in the political decision-making process to respect the fundamental human rights of all and respect the principles and norms enshrined in the national Constitution and in International Law.