{"id":21565,"date":"2024-01-17T12:09:33","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T17:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dplf.org\/en\/?p=21565"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:40:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:40:37","slug":"international-organizations-express-concern-over-legislation-aiming-to-criminalize-and-obstruct-civil-society-work-in-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dplf.org\/en\/2024\/01\/17\/international-organizations-express-concern-over-legislation-aiming-to-criminalize-and-obstruct-civil-society-work-in-venezuela\/","title":{"rendered":"International organizations express concern over legislation aiming to criminalize and obstruct civil society work in Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"

The undersigned organizations express deep concern over the ongoing efforts by the Venezuelan government to pass the bill entitled “Law of Supervision, Regularization, Performance, and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related\u00a0Organizations” (Ley de Fiscalizaci\u00f3n, Regularizaci\u00f3n, Actuaci\u00f3n y Financiamiento de las Organizaciones No Gubernamentales y Afines). This legislation, which was introduced and\u00a0initially approved\u00a0<\/a>by the ruling party in the National Assembly on January 24, 2023, stands in contradiction to international\u00a0norms and standards\u00a0<\/a>and poses a dire threat to the operations of civil society organizations (CSOs). New efforts to pass the legislation have resumed with the\u00a0announcement\u00a0<\/a>on January 9, 2024, by the President of the National Assembly about a public consultation on the content of the draft law, aiming to facilitate a second discussion, leading to its ultimate approval.<\/p>\n

If enacted, this law would seriously hinder the freedom of association and the free and\u00a0independent functioning of civil society organizations by requiring them to seek government\u00a0authorization for their operations and disclose any foreign funding. The vague and ambiguous\u00a0language in the current draft of the bill raises fears of heightened persecution against human\u00a0rights defenders, with potential fines, registration cancellations, and even criminal charges. The\u00a0bill’s explicit emphasis on foreign funding and labeling of NGOs as ‘foreign agents’ adds to its\u00a0troubling features.<\/p>\n

This is not the first effort by the State to advance legal or administrative measures to limit the\u00a0work of civil society organizations. Thus, regardless of the ultimate approval of this bill, the\u00a0mere existence of these types of legislative proposals represents a threat, with a chilling effect on\u00a0civil society that constitutes a form of control, contrary to an enabling environment for the\u00a0defense of rights and democratic values.<\/p>\n

As Venezuela embarks upon a pivotal year in the investigation at the International Criminal\u00a0Court, the limitations imposed on NGOs may impede their capacity to collect essential\u00a0information for the ongoing investigation and ultimately obstruct the pursuit of justice for crimes\u00a0against humanity. Moreover, the timing of the bill raises concerns that it will be used to repress\u00a0debate and dissent in the lead-up to the presidential elections this year, as well as the legislative<\/p>\n

and regional elections in 2025.<\/p>\n

We urge the international community to condemn both the proposed bill and the ongoing efforts\u00a0by the Venezuelan government to harass civil society organizations in the country. We stand in\u00a0solidarity with Venezuela human rights defenders who face continuous criminalization and\u00a0persecution. Finally, we urge the Venezuelan government to cease any form of harassment\u00a0against civil society organizations and abide by its international human rights obligations to\u00a0guarantee an enabling environment for human rights defenders.<\/p>\n