Human Rights Groups Issue Guidelines for Venezuelan Shelters

Human rights organizations have issued guidelines to improve the conditions in temporary shelters for victims of the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. The Venezuela Peace Laboratory has compiled a manual incorporating recommendations from the United Nations, aiming to ensure these shelters meet minimum standards for a safe and dignified stay.

The manual adapts international standards, including those from the Sphere Handbook and UNHCR, to the Venezuelan context. It is designed for decision-makers responding to emergencies. The document outlines ten essential characteristics for shelters, emphasizing the right to clear and accessible information about rules, services, and complaint procedures.

International standards also mandate sufficient access to potable water and separate sanitation facilities for men and women, along with provisions for personal and communal hygiene. The guidelines stress the importance of shelters as safe spaces, requiring measures to prevent and respond to violence, particularly against vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly. Non-discrimination based on age, sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion is a core principle, ensuring all residents have guaranteed equal rights. The manual also highlights the need to keep families together and provide adequate spaces for their well-being.

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From the first moment you should receive clear information about: how the shelter works, who administers it, what services exist, what are the rules of coexistence, where you can ask for help.