Venezuela

January in the Americas: A free expression and civic space round-up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Laura Vidal, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

“Venezuelan authorities are clearly seeking to prevent citizens from being informed about the government’s abuses of power with the arrest and charging of journalists covering anti-government protests” – CPJ

Carlos Correa’s fate has remained unknown since 7 January and the many requests to the authorities by Espacio Público, his family and dozens of national and international civil society organisations have remained unanswered.

The undersigned regional networks and other civil society organisations defending freedom of expression in Latin America and the Caribbean denounce the disappearance of Carlos Correa, Executive Director of Espacio Público, and demand his immediate release and safe return.

Jesus Armas’ disappearance is a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by those who use their voices to champion democracy and human rights.

In the face of the growing crackdown on press freedom sparked by Venezuela’s presidential election, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and seven partner organisations (including IFEX-ALC) have joined forces to expose the harrowing obstacles currently facing the Venezuelan press. The report found over 228 violations of press freedom, and notes that at least eight journalists remain arbitrarily imprisoned.

This is part one of a series. Part two focuses on the legacy of Venezuela’s state surveillance.

Eight people are detained by Nicolás Maduro’s government for carrying out their journalistic duties.

President Nicolás Maduro’s regime has increased surveillance, persecuted political dissent, and blocked the flow of information online. Venezuelan journalists, activists and political dissidents are looking for ways to circumvent and report the abuse.

Both national and foreign journalists face a climate of hostility and repression, marked by arbitrary arrests, threats, physical attacks, censorship and restrictions on information access. RSF strongly condemns these violations and demands immediate restoration of journalists’ rights.

We, the undersigned organizations and members of the global human rights community, urgently call for unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms, and other communication channels for the people in Venezuela at all times. We also demand an end to the use of technological tools and digital platforms for the surveillance and persecution of political dissent, particularly in the wake of the presidential elections of July 28. This commitment is crucial to respect the rights enshrined in Venezuela’s Constitution and the country’s international commitments.

The crisis in Venezuela has seen a significant deployment of the surveillance and control apparatus that the state has built up over recent years. This apparatus has been repeatedly denounced by civil society and organizations defending internet freedom in the country.

Given the current electoral situation in Venezuela, the undersigned international organizations and regional networks defending freedom of the press and expression express their concern about the attacks against national and international journalists who are documenting the events happening in the country, as well as activists, demonstrators, and the general population. We urge the Venezuelan authorities to fulfill their obligation to guarantee and protect the exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful association, as well as to guarantee the safety of journalists working in the country.

The episode involving journalist Antonio Di Giampaolo typifies how government control of the media and self-censorship has distorted election coverage in Venezuela and deprived voters of vital information about the presidential candidates.