Ávarp í umræðu um Venesúela

Madame President,

We thank the members of the independent international fact-finding mission for their work.

Last September, Iceland condemned here in this Council the systematic violence committed by Venezuela´s authorities, aimed at suppressing political opposition in the country.

Efforts to refuse ordinary citizens and opposition politicians their human rights, including civil and political rights, have continued in Venezuela with the elections held last December a case in point. The electoral process was marked by repression and the outcome was far from credible, but rather one more example of the undemocratic nature of President Maduro´s rule.

Madame President,

We note once more that Venezuela is an elected member of this Council and as such should be seeking to uphold the highest standards of human rights. Clearly its government is not doing so and we both regret this and find it deplorable.

We would like to ask the members of the fact-finding mission whether they can see any indication that the Maduro regime may in the near future begin to take steps that would guarantee the respect and protection of human rights in Venezuela.

I thank you.