Human Rights
As U.S. reinstates sanctions, Venezuelan dictatorship reopens door to U.N. Human Rights Office
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said that while he does not agree with the Venezuelan regime on some issues, there has been a small positive step in that that spaces for “dialogue” are beginning to open
April 24, 2024 12:11pm
Updated: April 25, 2024 9:36am
As the Maduro regime faces the reinstatement of U.S. sanctions, the communist dictatorship reportedly said Tuesday it is now reopening the door to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ACHNUD), according to a statement from International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan.
“I am grateful that you have expressed your commitment to allow the OHCHR office to return to Venezuela … I think it is something very positive,” Khan said at a press conference with Maduro in the Caracas based Miraflores Palace.
Maduro said he is committed to “overcoming differences” between the regime and the international community which has kept a hawkish eye on its continued repression of opposition candidates. Maduro promised to reopen the upcoming 2024 presidential elections to opposition candidates and parties but has since prohibited the candidacy of any serious opponents such as Maria Corina Machado.
“I have received the proposal to invite again the opening of the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to return to our country. I agree. Let's overcome our differences and the conflict we had.”
The Venezuelan regime previously suspended the activities of the OHCHR office in February, after accusing it of being a “biased entity” for denouncing the arrest of a Rocío San Miguel, a military affairs lawyer who was charged with of conspiring against the government.
The U.N. condemned the regime’s arrest of the attorney, saying that his detainment could qualify as a forced disappearance.
Khan, who made his fourth visit to the South American country said that, although they do not agree on some issues, Maduro’s announcement and “dialogue” was a positive step in the right direction.
The announcement surprised some since the ICC’ has been continuously investigating the Maduro regime for crimes against humanity.
“My team is going to return in approximately three weeks to interact with their experts so that we can work from a technical point of view (...) to try to solve problems together,” the U.N. official said.
The ICC, created in 2002, is the world's only independent court established to investigate the most serious crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
