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The co-signers of this report want to denounce that on September 26th, 2019 we were informed of a governmental statement that suspended registration activities for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations and foundations in the Principal Registry Office of the state of Miranda, a subsidiary of the “Ministry of Popular Power for Internal Affairs, Justice and Peace in Venezuela.” The government statement clearly prohibits the “registration of new NGOs, nonprofits and foundations until further notice.”

Similarly, two months ago, registration activities suspensions took place in the states of Bolívar and Zulia following orders that came straight from Caracas, including the revision of the statutes of these organizations. Last month, it was confirmed that the same orders had been given to government registries and notaries in the states of Barinas, Cojedes, Guárico, Sucre and Táchira, for which the measure would have a national scope.

As a result of these orders, in some states, registry offices have denied legal personality and update of their statutes to NGOs, citing their human rights work as the motive for the denial of their services. This arbitrary and indefinite suspension of registration procedures across several states throughout the country is an abusive act of the State organs that violates the Freedom of Assembly to individuals and organizations in Venezuela. These actions also violate the rights of the civil society to assemble and participate in matters of public interest – that include but are not limited to the defense of human rights – through their own organizations and initiatives, with independence from public and private entities, in accordance to international norms and standards and internal law.

The measure has been instituted in addition to previous systematic government policies designed to arbitrarily restrict, block and deny rights to NGOs and all autonomous entities, that have been denounced since 2010, which prevents them from obtaining legal personality and from fully exercising their functions, and seeks to intimidate and criminalize the work done by civil society. To date, these policies consist of:

Constant delays and denials of paperwork by the registry offices to the requests made in relation to social organizations, particularly those with scopes focused on human rights, citizen participation, and strengthening of democracy; The prohibition of international cooperation and financing agreements that the State unilaterally determines based solely on their self-interests, established within the “Law of Sovereignty and Self-determination in Emergency states”, in force since 2016; Undercover surveillance of the activities of these NGOs by administrative and financial institutions, in accordance to protocols set in place to counter crimes of terrorism and treason to the nation; and The monitoring of digital media, statutes, official communications, and releases by these NGOs that the State unilaterally deems to contain content against peace and pacific coexistence, as stipulated by the “Constitutional Law against Hatred, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance.”

The challenges faced by human rights defenders and advocates in Venezuela were documented by the 3rd Special Report on Venezuela conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented on July 4th by the High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet: “Human Rights defenders were victims of smear campaigns by pro-government media outlets and were subject to surveillance, intimidation, harassment, threats, and arbitrary detainments.”

With this new arbitrary measure that suspends registration activities, we seek to inform the international community of a possible rise in restrictions and obstructions to civilian-led organizations in Venezuela, via executive orders, decrees, and resolutions that may render a large number of them illegal or place them in legal uncertainty, as an excuse to dissolve them and end their operations via legal and administrative processes, including placing sanctions that may jeopardize the work executed by these NGOs, as well as the physical wellbeing and safety of its members. This decision directly contradicts one of the recommendations made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which urges Venezuelan authorities to adopt “effective measures to protect human rights defenders.”

We exhort the national government to render ineffective any decree, order, policy, resolution or administrative, legal or judicial action that may impede, obstruct or limit the registration activities and functions of all non-profit organizations and foundations in Venezuela, and all those that function as NGOs, to fulfill their international obligations and national duties to guarantee the respect and fulfillment of the rights and freedoms of civil society organizations in Venezuela.

Co-signees:

A.C. María Estrella de la Mañana A.C. MÉDICOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA Acceso a la Justicia Acción Solidaria Acción Zuliana por la Vida (Azul Positivo) ACCSI Acción Ciudadana Contra el SIDA ACOANA Aconvida Amigos Trasplantados de Venezuela Ancora Humanitas Asociación Civil Arellano y Asociados Asociación Civil Movimiento Vinotinto Asociación Civil Mujeres en Línea Asociación de Trabadores Discapacitados por accidentes y/o enfermedades ocupacionales, Maracay, estado Aragua Asociación Venezolana para la Hemofilia Asovehumboldt (Parque Humboldt) Aula Abierta AVESA. Asociación Venezolana para una Educación Sexual Alternativa Caleidoscopio Humano Casa de mujer Juana Ramírez La Avanzadora. Maracay Edo Aragua. Cátedra de DDHH de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado CECODAP Centro de Acción y Defensa por los Derechos Humanos (CADEF) Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (CDH-UCAB) Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Metropolitana (CDH-UNIMET) Centro de Formación para La Democracia Centro de Investigación Social, Formación y Estudios de la Mujer, CISFEM AC Centro de Justicia y Paz – Cepaz Centro para los Defensores y la Justicia (CDJ) Ciudadanía con Compromiso A.C Civilis Derechos Humanos Clima21 – Ambiente y Derechos Humanos Coalición de Organizaciones por el Derecho a la Salud y la Vida, CODEVIDA Codhez – Comisión para los Derechos Humanos del Estado Zulia Comisión de DDHH de la Federación Venezolana de Colegios de Abogados del estado Apure Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas de la Universidad del Zulia Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela del Estado Lara Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de colegios de abogados de Venezuela del estado Táchira

Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela-Mérida

Comisión para los Derechos Humanos y la Ciudadanía, Codehciu

Comité de DDHH para la Defensa de Pensionados, Jubilados, Adultos Mayores y Personas con Discapacidad

Comunidad en Movimiento A.C

Conciencia Ciudadana A.C

Consejo Comunal TEBRIPAR

Consorven

Convite AC

Defensa en Acción

Defiende Venezuela

EDEPA A.C.

El Zulia Recicla

Epikeia Observatorio Universitario de Derechos Humanos

Escuela de Formación Obrera, Maracay, Estado Aragua

Escuela de Vecinos de Venezuela

Espacio Público

EXCUBITUS Derechos Humanos en Educación

FeminismoINC

FEDERACIÓN NACIONAL DE SOCIEDADES DE PADRES Y REPRESENTANTES – FENASOPADRES

Foro Penal

Funcamama

Fundación Aguaclara

Fundación Fronteras Humanas (Fundafromh)

Fundación Grupo de Apoyo A Todo Pulmón

Fundación Incide

Fundación Linda Loaiza

Fundación Lucelia

Fundación para la Prevención de la Violencia Doméstica hacia la Mujer

Fundación Pro Bono Venezuela, ProVene

Fundación Prodefensa del Derecho a la Educación y la Niñez

Fundación Rehabilitarte

Fundaval

FundaRedes

Gente de Petróleo Norte de Anzoátegui

Geografía Viva

Gobiérnatec

Incluso A.C.

Instituto Mead de Venezuela A.C

Justicia y Paz OP Venezuela

La papelera tiene hambre

Laboratorio de Paz

MAPANI VENEZUELA (Madres y Padres por los Niños en Venezuela)

Mavid Carabobo

Médicos Unidos de Venezuela, Capítulo Lara

Médicos Unidos de Venezuela, Capitulo Puerto Ordaz

MONITOR SOCIAL A.C. (Estado Nueva Esparta)

Movimiento Ciudadano Dale Letra

Movimiento SOMOS

Mulier

Núcleo de Geografía Viva A.C.

Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de Los Andes

Observatorio Global Comunicación y Democracia

OBSERVATORIO PENAL MERIDA OPEM DDHH

Observatorio Venezolano de Conflictividad Social (OVCS)

Observatorio Venezolano de los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres

ONG Hombres por la Equidad e Igualdad

ONG Fundacancer

Organización de Derechos Humanos Justicia y Paz Aragua

Organización StopVIH

Padres Organizados de Venezuela

Prepara Familia

Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos, PROVEA

Promoción Educación y Defensa en DDHH – PROMEDEHUM

Proyecta Ciudadanía A.C

Proyecto Mujeres

Psicólogos sin Fronteras Venezuela

Red de Activistas Ciudadanos por los Derechos Humanos (Redac)

Red de Organizaciones Vecinales de Baruta

Redhnna – Venezuela

Revista SIC del Centro Gumilla

RVG+ RED VENEZOLANA DE GENTE POSITIVA

Sinergia, Red Venezolana de Organizaciones de Sociedad Civil

Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle

Sociedad Hominis Iura (SOHI)

SOS PACIENTES RENALES

Transparencia Venezuela

Una Mano para Monagas

Una Ventana a la Libertad

Uniandes A. C.

Unión Afirmativa Unión Vecinal para la Participación Ciudadana A.C Un Mundo Sin Mordaza Veedores por la Educación – Aragua Venezolanos en Acción Voto joven