Venezuela confronted at UN by ex-ambassador 

Ambassador Victor Rodriguez Cedeno spoke on behalf of UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental human rights group that has been a leading voice at the United Nations for Venezuelan political prisoners.

Venezuela tried to block U.S. Speech, vote failed 13-12

Last week, Venezuela and its allies called a vote at the UNHRC in a bid to block the U.S. from addressing its violations. The motion failed by a razor-thin margin, 13 to 12, with 11 abstaining and 11 absent.

Cedeno resigned in protest over Chavez abuses

Ambassador Cedeno famously resigned in 2004 rather than defend the Chavez regime’s abuses. He is a career diplomat and international law expert who represented Venezuela at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and in other senior international diplomatic and juridical posts.

Venezuela’s Maduro regime was recently re-elected to the council despite strong opposition from UN Watch and other human rights groups.

 
Statement by UN Watch to 32nd Session of United Nations Human Rights Council, delivered by Ambassador Victor Rodriguez Cedeno, 21 June 2016

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,

My name is Victor Rodriguez Cedeño, I was Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, and deputy chairman of the Commission on Human Rights which preceded this Council, and involved for many years in diverse legal and human rights bodies. I have the honor to speak on behalf of UN Watch.

Mr. President, I come today to express my deep concern with the greatest responsibility, to appeal to this Council to ensure the universal rights of Venezuelans.

Venezuela is currently undergoing an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis, which the government denies repeatedly:

1. In addition to more than 100 political prisoners, recognized by the Council, two of whom, the mayor Antonio Ledezma, and Leopoldo Lopez, were recently honored by UN Watch;

2. To not recognize the existence and functioning of the National Assembly, which is now majority opposition;

3. And to deny the exercise of our right to democracy and to decide our fate through a constitutional tool such as the recall referendum,

4. The Venezuelan government, Mr. President, violates the right to food and the right to health:

There is no bread, milk or toilet paper. With a shortage of 85% of essential goods and 95% of medicines, malnutrition and chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, diabetes or hypertension; the re-emergence of infectious diseases such as malaria, and new diseases such as Zika, cannot be treated.

Recent deaths of children due to lack of medicines or hospital supplies exposed a situation that must be addressed without further delay, to avoid new victims.

Venezuelans are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, which in no way affects national sovereignty nor does it interfere in the internal affairs of a state, as claimed by Venezuelan government representatives, who must accept reality and thus, humanitarian aid, which is based on the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, non-discrimination and international solidarity.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

—-

Declaración de UN Watch
Debate General  Item 3, 32a  Sesión ordinaria del Consejo de DDHH
presentada por Víctor Rodríguez Cedeño, 21 Junio 2016

Muchas gracias , Señor Presidente:

Mi nombre es Víctor Rodríguez Cedeño fui embajador de Venezuela ante las NNUU, y vicepresidente de la Comisión que precedió este Consejo, vinculado por mucho tiempo a distintos órganos jurídicos y de ddhh del sistema, y tengo el honor de hablar en nombre de UN Watch.

Señor Presidente, he venido hoy a expresar mi profunda preocupación y con la mayor responsabilidad, para hacer un llamamiento a este Consejo para que asegure los derechos universales de los venezolanos.

Venezuela atraviesa hoy una crisis política, económica y social sin precedentes, que el gobierno niega reiteradamente:

1. Además de contar con mas de 100 presos político, reconocidos por este Consejo (dos de ellos, el alcalde Antonio Ledezma, y Leopoldo López, honrados por UN Watch);

2. de desconocer la existencia y funcionamiento de la Asamblea Nacional, ahora mayoritariamente opositora;

3. y de negar el ejercicio de nuestro derecho a la democracia y a decidir nuestro destino, a través de una herramienta constitucional como es el referendo revocatorio,

4. el gobierno venezolano, señor presidente, vulnera el derecho a la alimentación y el derecho a la salud:

No hay pan, leche ni papel higiénico. Con una escasez de 85% en bienes esenciales y de 95% en medicamentos, la desnutrición y enfermedades crónicas como el cáncer, VIH, diabetes o hipertensión; la reaparición de enfermedades infecciosas como la malaria, y de nuevas enfermedades como el zica, no pueden ser tratados. Recientes muertes de niños por falta de medicamentos o de insumos hospitalarios exponen una situación que debe ser atendida sin más demora, para evitar nuevas víctimas.

Los venezolanos están urgidos de ayuda humanitaria que en nada afecta la soberanía nacional, ni supone una injerencia en los asuntos internos de un Estado, como afirman los representantes del gobierno, quienes deben aceptar la realidad y por ende, la ayuda humanitaria, que se basa en los principios de humanidad, imparcialidad, neutralidad, no discriminación y en la solidaridad internacional.

Muchas Gracias, señor Presidente.