Venezuelan rights groups demand faster progress in dialogue, urge electoral council renewal

Human rights organizations in Venezuela are pressing for tangible progress in the ongoing political dialogue, particularly concerning the renewal of key state institutions. Fourteen rights groups issued a statement this week demanding that the talks, facilitated by the United States, move beyond declarations to concrete actions.

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We see no transparent, technical, or legal reasons that justify its delay until December. The procedures established in current legislation allow for the renewal of the electoral body in a period of approximately two months. If there is political will, October is a possible date.

Their primary demands focus on the swift appointment of a new Supreme Court of Justice and the renewal of the National Electoral Council's board. The organizations expressed concern that the electoral body's renewal might be postponed until December, asserting that it could realistically be completed by October if political will exists. They see no transparent, technical, or legal justifications for such a delay, noting that existing legislation allows for a much shorter timeframe.

The NGOs cautioned that prolonged delays in electoral matters could further erode public trust, especially after years of unfulfilled promises and political processes that have not yielded sustainable institutional changes. They stressed that the negotiation table must deliver early, credible, and genuine results for the Venezuelan population. A transparent renewal of institutions, they believe, would serve as an initial signal that the conversations can produce meaningful outcomes.

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The negotiation table needs to produce early, credible, and genuine results for the Venezuelan population.

Furthermore, the organizations insisted that any eventual transition must not be limited to merely calling elections. They advocate for a process that guarantees conditions for citizens to participate politically, organize, access information, and protest without fear of reprisal. Their commitment, they stated, extends beyond election calls to encompass the full realization of democratic reinstitutionalization, the exercise of freedoms, and respect for human rights.

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Our commitment does not begin or end with the call for an election. It continues until the will for change expressed on July 28, 2024, is materialized through a new electoral process that leads to democratic reinstitutionalization, the exercise of freedoms, and respect for human rights.