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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Justice, Encounter and Pardon warns of political prisoners' vulnerability after devastating earthquakes

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • A Venezuelan NGO is urging authorities to implement urgent humanitarian measures to protect political prisoners following recent earthquakes.
  • The organization highlights the increased vulnerability of detainees due to damaged prison infrastructure and ongoing seismic activity.
  • The NGO calls for the immediate release of political prisoners and exceptional humanitarian measures, emphasizing the state's responsibility for their safety.

The Venezuelan NGO Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla) has called on Venezuelan authorities to enact urgent humanitarian measures to safeguard individuals deprived of liberty. This plea comes in the wake of devastating earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks that have struck the country since June 24.

The humanitarian crisis generated by the double earthquake of June 24 and its constant aftershocks aggravates with extreme urgency the situation of vulnerability in the detention centers of Venezuela. In times of natural disaster, the duty to protect the life and physical integrity of persons deprived of liberty is an unavoidable and direct obligation of the State.

— Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla)The NGO highlighted the heightened risks faced by prisoners in Venezuelan detention centers following recent earthquakes.

The organization's statement follows an alert from the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (Clippve). Clippve reported a deterioration of detention conditions in the Ramo Verde and El Rodeo I penitentiaries after the seismic events. Concerns have been raised about potential infrastructure damage and the safety of the detainees.

JEPVzla emphasized that the ongoing emergency exacerbates the vulnerability of those held in state custody. The NGO reminded authorities of their fundamental responsibility to guarantee the protection of all individuals under their care. "In times of natural disaster, the duty to protect the life and physical integrity of persons deprived of liberty is an unavoidable and direct obligation of the State," the organization stated.

We reiterate our call for the immediate release of political prisoners. We insist that the immediate granting of exceptional humanitarian measures is essential.

— Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla)The organization demanded the release of political prisoners and special humanitarian aid.

The NGO reiterated its demand for the immediate release of political prisoners, urging the implementation of exceptional humanitarian measures given the heightened risks within penitentiary centers. Furthermore, JEPVzla requested that authorities conduct immediate technical inspections of all prison facilities nationwide to assess structural integrity following the earthquakes. They stressed the need for transparent communication channels with families regarding any necessary transfers due to damage or collapse risks, strictly avoiding any further isolation or lack of communication.

The emergency also demands an immediate technical evaluation of the structural state of all detention centers; in case transfers are required due to damage or risk of collapse, the authorities must guarantee official real-time information channels for family members, absolutely avoiding lack of communication or isolation.

— Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla)JEPVzla called for structural assessments of prisons and clear communication with families of detainees.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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