Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Venezuela

Statement by the United States of America

As delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor

Human Rights Council, 50th Session

Thank you, Mr. President and Madame High Commissioner.

The United States continues to support a negotiated solution to the Venezuela crisis that represents a path to restoring democracy and the rule of law and puts conditions in place for free and fair elections.

We call for the unconditional release of all persons unjustly detained, including wrongfully detained U.S. nationals; continued support for victims of abuses; full respect for the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and the right to collective bargaining; and an end to attacks against human rights defenders, trade union leaders, journalists, and the political opposition and their family members.

We remain seriously concerned about the lack of judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, as well as continued impunity for human rights abuses in Venezuela, highlighted in the Independent Fact-Finding Mission’s extensive reporting.

We remain committed to working with partners and allies to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people and promote accountability for corrupt actors and those who undermine democracy and abuse human rights.

My question to you is: In addition to renewing the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission in September, how can we promote accountability for human rights abuses committed by Maduro and his enablers?

I thank you.

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