A Decade Under Chávez

Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela

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I. Executive Summary

Political Discrimination

The Courts

The Media

Organized Labor

Civil Society

The Future of Venezuelan Democracy

II. Political Discrimination

Political Discrimination under International Law

Political Discrimination under Venezuelan Law

Political Patronage and Discrimination Before Chávez

Blacklisting: The “Tascón List” and “Maisanta Program”

Discrimination in PDVSA

Discrimination in Other Areas

Recommendations

III. The Courts

International Norms on Judicial Independence

Background

The 2004 Court-Packing Law

A Compliant Court

Recommendations

IV. The Media

Venezuela’s Polarized Media

Toughening Speech Offenses

Regulating Media Content

Restricting Information

International Norms

Access to Information under Venezuelan Law

Failure to Respect the Right of Access to Information

Controlling the Airwaves

Community Radio and Television

Lack of Judicial Protection of Freedom of Expression

Recommendations

V. Organized Labor

Freedom of Association under International Law

Freedom of Association under Venezuelan Law

Organized Labor Before Chávez

Electoral Interference and the Denial of Collective Bargaining Rights

Government Favoritism and the Denial of Collective Bargaining Rights

Government Reprisals: The Oil Sector

New Workers’ Associations: Risks to Freedom of Association

Lack of Judicial Protection of Freedom of Association

Recommendations

VI. Civil Society

International Norms on Civil Society

Deteriorated Relations with Civil Society

Two Divergent Approaches to Rights Advocates

Prosecutorial Harassment

Public Condemnation

Attempts to Exclude NGOS from International Forums

Proposed Legal Restrictions

Judicial Rulings Affecting Civil Society

Recommendations

Acknowledgments

 

September 2008   ISBN:  1-56432-371-4