Rights experts ‘deeply disturbed’ at erosion of media freedom in Venezuela – UN human rights office

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, and the Inter-American Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Edison Lanza, expressed concern at the eroding media freedom in Venezuela, citing a number of reported incidents of harassments of journalists and media groups.

“We are deeply disturbed by the recent reports of attacks against journalists and independent media groups, escalating the pressure over the Venezuelan media,” they said in a news release issued today by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

“This is especially alarming given the country’s food and medicines shortages, economic crisis and heightened social and political tensions,” they stressed.

The experts have also sent a joint letter to the Venezuelan Government expressing their concerns and have requested clarifications.

According to the news release, the Government confirmed the receipt of the letter. The experts now hope that the response to their communication will enable a dialogue on these and other topics related to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

Citing recent reports, the news release also mentioned that a number of journalists have been arrested, threatened, attacked or had their work equipment retained, especially when they were reporting on looting or covering protests.

It added that radio stations, newspapers and a news website too have had to face obstacles in carrying out their work.

“Threats or attacks against journalists and the media not only violate the rights of these persons but undermine the ability of Venezuelans and others elsewhere to be informed on events of critical importance,” Mr. Kaye said, highlighting the importance of the work of the media.

Furthermore, referring to allegations that attackers were loyal to groups supportive to the Government, the experts underlined that the authorities must urgently respond to the reports of violence and intimidation.

The two rights experts stressed that law enforcement agencies have the obligation to protect journalists rather than harass them.

The experts also drew attention to recent judicial decisions, voicing concern that these greatly increase the pressure over media and restrict them from carrying out their work with independence.

On 8 June, the Supreme Court of Venezuela ordered the La Patilla and Caraota Digital news website to cease disseminating videos of a lynching through its webpage and social media.

This decision can be extended to other media in the country, the OHCHR press release noted.

“This recent Supreme Court’s decision establishes a disproportional and unreasonable restriction confronting Inter American and global standards for the right to freedom of expression,” Mr. Lanza said.

“The exercise of the right to freedom of expression cannot be subject to prior censorship,” he stressed.

The experts further said it was disturbing that a number of requests by radio stations for concession renewal remain ignored for unreasonable periods and that they were operating under expired permits.

In particular, they noted great concern at the closure of the La Barinesa radio station, on 10 June, reportedly because of its expired licence.

On this closure, Mr. Kaye said, “International standards are also clear on this matter: precisely to prevent abuses, procedures for licensing broadcasters must be reasonable, objective, clear, transparent and non-discriminatory.”

“The adoption of extreme measures such as the closure of a radio station must be grounded on very firm grounds and only used as a last resort,” Mr. Lanza pointed out.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.