Joint Press Release: Cases of arbitrary detention of Gregory Hinds and Geraldine Chacón presented to the UN

VENEZUELA: Cases of arbitrary detention of GregoryHinds and Geraldine Chacón presented to the UN

Geneva-Paris-Caracas, 31 May 2018 – Given the lack ofcompliance by the Venezuelan authorities with legal resolutions calling for therelease from prison of human rights defender Geraldine Chacón who has been heldfor 120 days and human rights defender Gregory Hinds who has been held for 121days, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and COFAVIC havepresented the case to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Gregory Hinds, Director General of the Foundation for Community Ambassadors(FundaciónEmbajadores Comunitarios - FEC)and Geraldine Chacón, Director of the FEC Ambassadors Program, bothhuman rights defenders, have been arbitrarilyheld in detention in the Helicoide prison since January 31, 2018 and February 1, 2018, respectively, ina case which has produced numerous human rights violations.

The continuation of their arbitrary detention is especially seriousbecause of the existence of two legal resolutions which have requested theirimmediate release and up to six notifications sent to the Bolivian NationalIntelligence Service (Servicio Bolivarianode Inteligencia Nacional - SEBIN), which has to date denied receiving thesenotifications (see background).

“It is scandalous that Gregory and Geraldine are still being held inprison despite the fact that the Venezuelan justice system itself has requestedtheir release. This is such a flagrant case of arbitrary detention that we areconvinced that international scrutiny by the UN Working Group will lead to aresolution in favour of Gregory and Geraldine”,stated Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the OMCT.

The two defenders are being held in inadequate conditions for theirhealth, which appears to have deteriorated, and for their physical and psychologicalintegrity. They have restricted access to drinking water, are prohibited fromgoing outside in the sunlight and have been locked up with individuals accusedof common crimes, putting their security at risk.

“Aside from flagrant violations of due process, there are clearindications in this case that the conditions of detention could constitutetorture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, for which we are demanding aneffective investigation”, declared Gloria Cano,Vice-President of FIDH.

Finally, it is worrying that to date neither their lawyers nor familymembers of the two defenders, nor human rights organisations, have been permittedto visit them in the Helicoide prison.

“Before theInternational Community, we are making an urgent call to the Venezuelanauthorities to immediately authorise access to family members and human rightsorganisations so that they can verify Geraldine and Gregory’s situation”, affirmed Liliana Ortega, Director of COFAVIC.

For furtherinformation, please contact:

• OMCT: Miguel Martín / Delphine Reculeau: +41 22 809 49 39
• FIDH: José Carlos Thissen : +51 95 41 31 650

· COFAVIC: Liliana Ortega / Hercilia Garnica: lortega@cofavic.org; cofavic@cofavic.org;coordinaciónprensa@cofavic.org

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) wascreated in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Theobjective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations ofrepression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both membersof ProtectDefenders.eu,the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented byinternational civil society.

Since 1989 COFAVIC has been giving advice and supportto victims of violations of the right to life, personal integrity, personalfreedom and due process. During this time the organisation has recorded 600cases of human rights violations in Venezuela and has brought six cases beforethe Inter-American System of Human Rights.