On 15 February 2024 AP carried the story that Venezuela\u2019s government has ordered the local UN office on human rights to suspend operations, giving its staff 72 hours to leave, after accusing the office of promoting opposition to the South American country. The UN office was established in Caracas in September 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The foreign affairs minister, Yv\u00e1n Gil, announced the decision at a news conference in Caracas on Thursday. Gil\u2019s announcement came on the heels of the detention of the human rights attorney Roc\u00edo San Miguel, which set off a wave of criticism inside and outside Venezuela.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The South American country\u2019s government said it had made a decision \u201cto suspend the activities of the technical advisory office of the UN high commissioner for human rights and carry out a holistic revision of the technical cooperation terms\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government said the UN human rights office must rectify its \u201ccolonialist, abusive and violating attitude\u201d, accusing it of playing an \u201cinappropriate role\u201d in the country and supporting impunity for people involved in attempts at assassination, coups, conspiracies and other plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Venezuelan government regularly accuses members of the political opposition of plotting takeovers or the assassination of President Nicolas Maduro, all accusations vehemently denied by opposing parties and their members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps. We continue to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders,<\/em>\u201d said UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. \u201cOur guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Venezuelan state television on Wednesday harshly criticized comments by the UN\u2019s special rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, who just concluded a visit to Venezuela. Fakhri had said in a statement the government food program does not tackle the root causes of hunger and is susceptible to political influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n San Miguel was taken into custody on Friday at the airport near Caracas while she and her daughter awaited a flight to Miami. Authorities did not acknowledge her detention until Sunday, and as of Wednesday her attorney had not been allowed to meet with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The attorney general, Tarek William Saab, earlier in the week said she was being held at the Helicoide prison, an infamous institution for political prisoners.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n San Miguel\u2019s daughter, ex-husband, two brothers and former partner were also detained following her arrest. Of them, only her former partner remains in custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n