IACHR hopes Venezuela to rethink withdrawal

The president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, said he hoped "respectfully" that the Venezuelan state reconsiders its intention to leave the American Convention on Human Rights.

Referring to the Venezuelan Government decision to denounce the convention in November 2012, Orozco said in an interview published by Mexican newspaper La Jornada that there were "double standards" in the Commission with respect to Venezuela.

Orozco underscored that it is vital that the 35 States ratify or join the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights.

Although the conditions across Latin America are different from those of the 1970s, Orozco Henríquez warned against the reemergence of actions violating human rights upon the breach of the constitutional democratic order, absence of free and regular elections, and state of emergency.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera