The president of WOLA, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, spoke before the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) about the situation in Venezuela following the elections on July 28.
Jiménez Sandoval emphasized that democracy is essential for upholding human rights. She criticized the Venezuelan government’s refusal to provide election tallies, pointing out the absence of legal requirements for transparency.
She reported that there are currently 1,867 political prisoners in the country, including children and indigenous people. Ongoing repression has led to an increase in forced migration, with many people fleeing without the necessary documentation due to arbitrary passport cancellations. This situation contributes to the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans who have already fled the country.
Jiménez Sandoval urged OAS member states to remember that democracy hinges on the protection of human rights, regardless of political ideologies. She called for continued mediation efforts and international pressure, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the rights of Venezuelans who bravely exercised their right to vote.
She also appealed for the renewal of the OAS Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela and advocated for regional policies to address the humanitarian crisis and support the Venezuelan diaspora. “The crisis in Venezuela threatens to set a dangerous precedent for democracy in the region,” Jiménez Sandoval asserted, reminding OAS member states that protecting the will of the Venezuelan people is crucial for the future of hemispheric relations.
Read the complete remarks here