We the undersigned, people, organizations and networks of organizations committed to the defense of human rights and the defense of a woman’s rights to a life free from violence want to make known to domestic, regional, and international public opinion our position with regards to the case of the young woman, Ángela Aguirre (age 16), whose body was found at El Rey resort, in Puerto Ordaz, Bolívar, on the 26th day of March of 2019.
To which we declare the following:
- We express our condolences and solidarity to the family of Ángela for an irreparable loss;
- We demand that the institutions of the State fulfill their obligations as guarantor of women’s rights;
- We demand an impartial investigation free from bias and gender stereotypes, with the goal of establishing the facts, that meet the international standards of women’s rights and of specialized protocol, such as the Latin American Model Protocol of investigations into the violent deaths of women for reasons of gender (femicide/feminicide);
- We demand unrestricted access to justice without undue delay, with respect to due process and judicial guarantees, by the actors of the branch of justice with the due diligence that would allow the punishment of those responsible and obtain justice for Ángela and her family;
- We remind the Venezuelan State of its obligation to prevent, investigate and punish sexual violence and femicide, both crimes criminalized by the Organic Law of the Right of Women to a Life Free from Violence (LODMVLV, by its Spanish acronym), in light of which has demonstrated a pattern of impunity that places Venezuelan women at risk;
- We further remind the State of its obligation to adopt, implement and oversee protocols that establish clear and uniform criteria as much for the investigation as for the comprehensive care of violent acts that involve women as victims, in accordance with the judgement of la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos’, CorteIDH, (Inter-American Court of Human RIghts) contained in paragraph 332 of the judgement “Caso López Soto y otros VS Venezuela” (Case of López Soto et al. vs. Venezuela) on the 26th of September of 2018;
- We make a strong call to the authorities and the media to avoid gender stereotypes during the investigation and trial, because they distort perceptions and give rise to decisions based on preconceived beliefs and myths instead of concrete facts, all of which can lead to the denial of justice, including the revictimization of Ángela’s relatives;
- We reiterate that gender violence against women, including sexual violence and femicide, constitute grave violations of human rights and human dignity, that are both product and evidence, in the historical power inequality between men and women.
We demand justice for Ángela.
#JusticiaParaAngela (#JusticeForAngela) #NiUnaMenos (#NotOneLess)
1. Acceso a la Justicia (Access to Justice)
2. Acción En Positivo (Action in Positive)
3. Acción Solidaria (Solidarity Action)
4. Aconvida (The Conquering Life Civil Association)
5. ALAPLAF
6. Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly)
7. Asociación Civil Fuerza, Unión, Justicia, Solidaridad y Paz, FUNPAZ (Civil Strength, Union, Justice, Solidarity and Peace Association, FUNPAZ)
8. Asociación Civil Mujeres en Línea (Civil Association of Women Online)
9. Asociación Civil Vida y Luz, Asoviluz (Civil Association of Life and Light, Asoviluz)
10. Asociación Venezolana para una Educación Sexual Alternativa. AVESA (Venezuelan Association for an Alternative Sexual Education. AVESA)
11. Caleidoscopio Humano (Human Kaleidoscope)
12. Casa de la Mujer Juana Ramírez la Avanzadora (Juana Ramírez “La Avanzadora” Women’s House)
13. CECODAP
14. Centro de Estudios de Género de la Universidad Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar University Center for Gender Studies)
15. Centro de Estudios de la Mujer CEM UCV (Center for Women’s Studies CEM UCV)
16. Centro de Justicia y Paz, CEPAZ (Center for Justice and Peace, CEPAZ)
17. Civilis Derechos Humanos (Civilis Human Rights)
18. Codhez – Comisión para los Derechos Humanos del Estado Zulia (Codhez – Zulia State Commision for Human Rights)
19. Comision Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela Del
Estado Tachira (Tachira State Federation of Venezuelan Law Colleges National Commission on Human Rights)
20. Comisión para los Derechos Humanos y la Ciudadanía, CODEHCIU (Commision for Human Rights and Citizenship, CODEHCIU)
21. Control Ciudadano para la Seguridad, la Defensa y la F (Citizen Control for Security, Defense and the National Armed Forces)
34. Fundación Mavid (Mavid Foundation)
35. Fundamujer (Foundation for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Against Women)
36. Hombres por la Equidad e Igualdad (Men for Equity and Equality)
37. Laboratorio de Paz (Peace Laboratory)
38. Las Piloneras (Pillar Dancers)
39. Loto Azul Mujer (Blue Lotus Woman)
40. MONITOR SOCIAL A.C. (Social Monitor A.C.)
41. Mujeres con Voluntad (Women with Determination)
42. Mujeres por los Derechos (Women for Rights)
43. Mujeres Venezolanas en Acción (Venezuelan Women in Action)
44. Mulier
45. Observatorio Venezolano de los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (Venezuelan Observatory on Human Rights of Women)
46. Observatorio Venezolano de los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres, Núcleo Andino (Venezuelan Observatory on Human Rights of Women, Andean Core)
47. Organización StopVIH (StopHIV Organization)
48. Padres Organizados de Venezuela (Organized Parents of Venezuela)
49. PLAFAM (Civil Association for Family Planning)
50. Prepara Familia (Prepare Family)
51. PROENA
52. Proiuris
53. Promoción Educación y Defensa en DDHH – PROMEDEHUM (Promotion Education and Defense of Human Rights, PROMEDEHUM)
54. PROVEA (The Venezuelan Education-Action Program on Human Rights)
55. Proyecto Mujeres (Women Project)
56. Psicólogos sin Fronteras Venezuela (Psychologists Without Borders Venezuela)
57. Red de Activistas Ciudadanos por los Derechos Humanos, REDAC (Network of Citizen Activists for Human Rights, REDAC)
58. RED DE DEFENSORES DE DDHH NUEVA ESPARTA (NETWORK OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NUEVA ESPARTA)
59. Red Mérida Feminista (Feminist Network Mérida)
60. Red Naranja – Red de Observación y Acción por el derecho de las Mujeres a una vida libre de violencia (Orange Network – Network of Observation and Action for women’s rights to a life free of violence)
61. Red por los Derechos de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes, Redhnna (Network for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, Redhnna)
62. Revista SIC (SIC Magazine)
63. Sociedad Homínidos Iura (SOHI) (Iura Hominoid Society)
64. SOY MUJER ONG (I AM A WOMAN NGO)
65. Unión Afirmativa (Affirmative Union)
66. Vente
People:
1. Abril Mejías Romhany 19453624
2. Adelba Taffin 5962965
3. Adelfa Malpica Dommar 5549255
4. Adriana B. Aguirre A. 14509280
5. Adriana Tovar 14987831
6. Agusleth Sánchez 30994543
7. Alba Perdomo 10271811
8. Alexander Martínez 19803082
9. Alexis López Abreu 15392403
10. Alfredo Infante 16343565
11. Alicia Moncada 17571509
12. Amalia Floreani 25068033
13. Ana Júlia Jatar 4397293
14. Ana López 15943116
15. Ana María Aguirre 15141087
16. Ana maria malave 16395835
17. Andrea Caridad 27158654
18. Andrea Herrera 21248202
19. Andreina Zuluaga 23634003
20. Andrés Colmenárez 11792738
21. Angélica Goitia 27732611
22. Annerys Pájaro 26599634
23. Armando Villarroel Suárez 10805402
24. Asdrubal gonzalez 10487224
25. Aura Nunez 4993714
26. Azorenny Bracamonte 19283545
27. Beatriz Borges 15179466
28. Beatriz Gerbasi 2098095
29. Beatriz Rodriguez 2931189
30. Belmar Franceschi 9416823
31. Betzhabet Melo 16482466
32. Blanca Medina 11294889
33. Camila González 84571417
34. Carlos Casanova 21001742
35. Carlos Guzmán 4277302
36. Carlos Trapani 14428015
37. Carlos Trapani 14428015
38. Carmencecilia Monterola 24412729
39. Carolina Godoy 6975891
40. Carolina Monterola 9948704
41. CELIA DAO CASTILLO 7766544
42. Cesar Chacon 5674502
43. Christian Gómez 28512522
44. Christian Gómez 28512522
45. Claudia Rodríguez Gilly 105017137
46. Clemi Niño 9147481
47. Constanza Armas 17471405
48. Cova Rodriguez Franklin Jordan 24889101
49. Daniela Castillo 27644794
50. Daniela Guerra Cafoncelli 21229562
51. Dannielys vivas 28415864
52. Deborah Van Berkel 5222358
53. Delia Mondragón 6929649
54. Diana López 17697152
55. Diana Merchan 5313285
56. Diego Villegas 28373973
57. Dorayda Cardenas 11516739
58. Doris Rojas 7603471
59. Dorkis Castro 9411026
60. Dulce Castellanos Briceño 8724990
61. Eduardo franco 6258577
62. Eglis Pérez 4033061
63. Enrique larralde 3177004
64. Enriqueta Romano 8933283
65. Erika Raven 14747587
66. Estefania Reyes
67. Eva M Riera L 3665304
68. Fabiana Alvarez 12387506
69. Feliciano Reyna 4351698
70. Fernando Aranguren 5415745
71. Francisco Javier Iwargichi 10927405
72. Franluis Pino 27390169
73. Franzis Torrealba Naranjo 18786161
74. Froilan Alejandro Cova Rodríguez 26623335
75. Gabriela Buada Blondell 17855414
76. Gabriela Caro 16588316
77. Gabriela Hernàndez 28098191
78. Gabrielle Guerón Josko 6819382
79. Gerardo Mancini 6721684
80. Gertrudis Guillén 8917752
81. Gioconda Espina 3660081
82. Gipsy Gómez 3986729
83. Gloria Camero Ceballos 4275121
84. Grisel Mercadante 14522332
85. Griselda Barroso Morgado 6319772
86. Gritzy Danús 81128416
87. Haydee Deutsch 3157165
88. Héctor Escandell 18195965
89. Hector Perez 906719
90. Idanis Cobo 17296951
91. Iderni Villalba 14422346
92. Ilvia Rojas 4081383
93. Ingeborg Schaffer 18339886
94. Ingrid Bravo Balabu 15700601
95. Iraní Acosta 17087615
96. Irene Coello Collada 16082627
97. Iris González 10345166
98. Iris Veronica vivas 6721217
99. Irma Iorio 5693742
100. Isabel Polito 5532084
101. Isabel Zerpa 4250049
102. Isolda Heredia de Salvatierra 1605396
103. Jackeline Fernández 10798141
104. Janet Perez 11911682
105. Jean Carlos Yaguare Gómez 16630127
106. Jean Franco Yaguare Cova 28561890
107. Jessica Herrera de Lares 14726488
108. Jesús Armando González 18471025
109. Jesús Urbina 7625274
110. Jhoalys Siverio 19419304
111. Jhonder Isava 16164802
112. Jimmys Joel Calzadilla Lacourt 12891177
113. Joan Guaiquire 12050122
114. Jose G. Castillo Z. 15276348
115. José Ricardo Salazar 4984457
116. Josmary Carvajal 11513646
117. Juan Antonio Perez 3124336
118. Juan Mogollón 14482086
119. Juan Rafael Pulido 4581849
120. Juan Vasquez 20598102
121. Juderkis Aguilar 12952382
122. Judith Pacheco 9357815
123. Karla Ávila 13994694
124. Karol Moreno 18209669
125. Lali Armengol Argemi 8742092
126. Laura Barrios 24037682
127. Laura Daniela Yaguare Cova 28561889
128. Laura Louza 9967775
129. Laura Vieira 8935163
130. Leonardo Gámez 26332832
131. Leonor Prado 3853938
132. Lexys Rendón 11409331
133. Lilia Arvelo Alemán 2134453
134. Liliana Rodríguez 11260331
135. Linda Loaiza López 16351885
136. Lisbeth Ramos 6244894
137. Lisnor Marcano 17765397
138. Lisseth Boon 9912044
139. Liz Mercado 23427362
140. Lizbeth Suegart 8898364
141. Lorena Liendo Rey 6670647
142. Louisiana Mejía 27921637
143. Lourdes Rodriguez 7565595
144. Luis Francisco Cabezas 11267493
145. LUIS.ENRIQUE MOLLEGAS 8937792
146. Luisa Kislinger 10784692
147. Luisa Pernalete 3425832
148. Lydia Pujol 3881802
149. Lysmar Carrasquero 30001973
150. Ma. Alexandra Sordo 9963677
151. Mabel Abdala 4416586
152. Magaly Huggins 3883941
153. Magdymar León Torrealba 7121146
154. Mailen Carvajal 28533134
155. Maira Cardenas 6013392
156. Mairis Balza 10301283
157. Malu Valerio 14660856
158. Manuel Aistorena 6098636
159. Manuel Mejias 17289444
160. Mara Velasquez 31038367
161. Margot González 8860117
162. María Adela Castellanos
163. Maria Alejandra Colmenares 17223215
164. Maria Alvarez 18246807
165. María Angélica Casanova 6913398
166. María Angèlica González 10958587
167. Maria Corina Muskus T
168. Maria E Behrends M 18310544
169. María Elena Rodríguez 4384708
170. María Eugenia Osuna Baidez 5301180
171. Maria Eugenia Prieto 3838988
172. María Eugenia Rojas 4081382
173. Maria Fernanda Montero 10456224
174. Maria Gabriela Cuevas Garcia 9882501
175. María Gabriela Reynoso Garcia 18664161
176. Maria Montes 6914295
177. María Nieves Rincon 4352926
178. Maria T Camacho J 21019213
179. Maria Teresa Hernandez 6853351
180. María Teresa Pacheco 5350773
181. María Teresa Urreiztieta 7667485
182. Marianela Pinzón 9235487
183. Mariangel Vielma 17977501
184. Mariangel Yepez 30981766
185. Marihug Fernández 20110221
186. Marilyn Maestre 13982336
187. Marina Mancila 9311468
188. Marisol Ramírez 4812565
189. Marjorie Sosa 3885314
190. Marvillanet Mata 8971570
191. Mary Marmugi de Cassaro 4036033
192. Maryurys Aguirre 13336861
193. Maurelin Rondon 14120773
194. Mayadevis Libertad González 14528623
195. Mayra Garcia 16022103
196. Mercedes Alvarez 11559063
197. Mercedes Muñoz 4825732
198. Migdalia Caceres 4515913
199. Migdalia Valdez 3021497
200. Miriam Viamonte 4936654
201. Mirian Rodriguez 14506669
202. Moraima Ascanio 4422588
203. Morella Malave 13993020
204. Nancy Bello 6447014
205. Nancy Hernández de Martín 3977638
206. Nancy Lameda 4900550
207. Nancy Núñez 4446851
208. Nancy Rojas Navas 8540379
209. Nancy Suarez 4253561
210. Natalia Olivero 18014522
211. Natalia Reveron 17852588
212. Nelson López 81423102
213. Neomarlin rojas 28575668
214. Nidia Nuñez 9142901
215. Nora Pérez Moreno 4702504
216. Noryomar Parra 10604240
217. Odell López Escote 18389668
218. Ofelia Alvarez 2931019
219. Ofelia Alvarez 2931019
220. Olga Cedeño 14190154
221. Oliveros Yovanni 19158832
222. Olivia Lozano 9650923
223. Oscar Gómez 10926215
224. Oswaldo Pacheco 11057928
225. Patricia Zuluaga 13472071
226. Paulina Soto 23214451
227. Pedro Morales 27838436
228. Pedro Vegue Ferrer 383906
229. Pilin León 7224130
230. Rafael Diaz 6144170
231. Rafael Luque Mirabal 2231098
232. Raiza Ramirez 9186139
233. Raúl Puche 23736418
234. Rayza Blassi 3665375
235. Rigoberto Lobo 12352754
236. Rigoberto Lobo 12352754
237. Robert Alfonzo 5860527
238. Rocio San Miguel 6974789
239. Ronna Rísquez 6314601
240. Rosa Elena Aceveso 9147284
241. Rosa Elena Cova Rodriguez 17242618
242. Rosalinda Goitia 27732609
243. Rosendo Vallejo 8534929
244. Rossely Roche 15437751
245. Rossie Cedeño 14190153
246. Sandra Hernandez 6435685
247. Sarai Bello 30579438
248. Selene Soto Rodríguez
249. Silenis Coromoto González Gómez 6306858
250. Silvia Farreras 4417732
251. Sonia Pérez 6860371
252. Stefany Torres 30579114
253. Susana Pèrez Ortega 3659282
254. Susana Reina 5303186
255. Tahiruma Peña 14440640
256. Tamara Adrian 3663403
257. TATIANA AGUILAR 11855605
258. Urquia Sanchez 627895
259. Valeska Quintana 30040838
260. Vanessa C. Yzaguirre R. 18529362
261. Veroiska Hernandez 30110239
262. Verónica Mesa 20815667
263. Victor De Abreu 19560690
264. Vilma Vargas Uribe 6880070
265. Virginia Lopez 9657946
266. Virginia Villablanca 14725279
267. Viviana López 3481807
268. Willmary Comus 6191392
269. Xiomara Lopez 10669729
270. Xiomara Nuñez 5742381
271. Yajaira Felipa Rodríguez 8451079
272. Yanet Fermin 8395383
273. Yarely Reina 9661939
274. Yarely Reina 9661939
275. Yecssay Hurtado 18611613
276. Yendri Velásquez 22381931
277. Yenni Yasmin Yaguare Gomez 15136532
278. Yenniffer Manzo 16562495
279. Yoleidy Yulimar Yaguare 17750513
280. Yolima Arellano 8000568
281. Yorgeli Andrea Maurera López 31564541
282. Ysmenia Vasquez 8937772
283. Yunitze Mendoza 13057757
Photo courtesy of family members
