A comprehensive documentation and analysis of the serious systematic violations of the Right to Freedom of Expression in Venezuela during 2023 was recently presented by the Venezuelan NGO Un Mundo Sin Moardaza

Through a rigorous quantitative methodology, the organization compiled a database with 381 cases registered by different partner organizations such as Espacio Público, Sala 58, the National Union of Press Workers and the National Associations of Journalists, among others.

The study evaluated the compliance of the Venezuelan State with the obligations to respect, guarantee, ensure, and promote the right to freedom of expression and adopt and cooperate with internal measures to safeguard this right and the right to access information. The assessment considered the indicators proposed by the international guidelines for research in Human Rights of the OHCHR.

Obligation to respect seriously breached

Regarding the respect for Freedom of Expression, 33 arbitrary arrests by the Public Ministry were recorded, 24.2% of them against press workers. In one common pattern, the workers were stripped of their devices and forced to delete critical content before releasing them, in a clear practice of censorship.

Likewise, 118 instances of threats, harassment and physical and psychological attacks against journalists and citizens who exercised their right to freedom of expression were documented, most of them (86.4%) directed against press workers. The modalities included intimidation and discredit campaigns by public officials on social media, persecution, and confiscation of equipment, among other serious actions.

In the traditional media, the report compiled 22 cases of arbitrary administrative sanctions by the National Telecommunications Agency (CONATEL), banning of broadcasts critical of the government, illegal confiscation of equipment and intentional censorship, mainly affecting community and independent radio stations. Among digital media, 12 cases of blocking of websites and social media through different methods were documented.

Serious shortcomings hamper the effective guarantee of the right to freedom of expression

Regarding the obligation to guarantee and ensure the right to freedom of expression, the report highlights serious deficiencies in the provision of basic public services that decisively hinder their effective exercise. 44 cases of prolonged outages and failures in electricity and internet services were documented in different regions of the country, mainly attributable to the State-run telecommunications and electricity companies CANTV and CORPOELEC.

The systematic and disproportionate use of public force was evident in the repression of 4,351 peaceful demonstrations during the first half of 2023, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Failure to comply with international cooperation

Regarding the obligation to international cooperation and promotion and adoption of effective legislation and public policies, the report highlights the poor performance of Venezuela in the most important global freedom rankings.

Venezuela ranks 159th among a group of 180 countries evaluated in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index prepared by Reporters Without Borders. Similarly, Venezuela scores poorly in terms of internet freedom (29/100) and general freedoms (15/100) in ratings compiled by Freedom House.

The report also found that the Venezuelan State has systematically ignored all the recommendations and calls issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner and other international organizations on the need to guarantee the free exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. Nor has it allowed the entry of independent verification missions in the last 5 years.

The opposition primaries as evidence of censorship and obstruction of information

The report dedicates a section to the documentation of serious violations of freedom of expression and access to public information during the opposition primary elections held on October 22, 2023.

Openly disproportionate and biased media coverage was observed in the main public and private media outlets during the months before the electoral process. While the ruling party monopolized 82.5% of the air time, the visibility of opposition candidates in the media reached a mere 17.5%.

On election day, the main TV stations and State media completely ignored this event of national interest, omitting any type of information on the development of the opposition electoral process.

Likewise, serious obstacles and blockages of websites, social media and digital platforms trying to provide alternative coverage of the electoral process were registered, in addition to prolonged outages of public internet and electricity services in different areas, which hindered the flow of information.

The 2023 Annual Report on Freedom of Expression by Un Mundo Sin Mordaza represents an urgent call for attention to the very serious and systematic crisis affecting this fundamental right in Venezuela. The exhaustive monitoring and data collected by the organization show a structural pattern of violations, repression, censorship, blockades and obstruction of the free flow of information by security forces and government agencies.

The document denounces the lack of a genuine political will on the part of the Venezuelan State to comply with its constitutional obligations and international commitments to guarantee, respect and promote the full exercise of freedom of expression, press and access to public information by the entire Venezuelan society.

The report urges the authorities to adopt firm and immediate measures to reverse this critical situation, following the inter-American and international standards on the matter, including ceasing all types of harassment and persecution against journalists and the media; investigating and punishing cases of attacks and arbitrary detentions; reform the restrictive legal framework, and promote a culture of tolerance, pluralism and respect for these fundamental democratic rights.

Download the full report in Spanish HERE.

Translated by José Rafael Medina