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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1)

Pre-Crisis Venezuela

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis

Human Rights during the Crisis (inside Venezuela)

Impact on neighbouring countries and response of global community

Our Response here in Trinidad

1. Pre-Crisis Venezuela

Pre-Crisis Venezuela The ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis in Venezuela began on the 2nd June 2010, when former president Hugo Chávez declared an "economic war” targeting private retailers due to increasing shortages and raising prices in Venezuela. Since then many internal and external factors has pushed the country towards complete economic and societal ruin, with mass inflation, shortages of food, medicine and other necessities and a crumbling judicial and social support system.

But it wasn’t always like this...

Pre-Crisis Venezuela Just 2 decades ago, Venezuela, which possesses the world’s largest crude oil reserves, was a relatively stable democracy with one of Latin America’s fastest-rising economies, increasing its GDP per capita by almost 400% between 1999 and 2014 (based on data from the World Bank), despite experiencing a recession in 2003 and the global financial crisis in 2008. Awash with money from its lucrative petroleum industry, late former President Hugo Chavez, who served as president from 1998 until his death in 2013, spent huge amounts on social programs and aggressively fighting against inequality, resulting in a decrease in GINI coefficient (a quantitative measure of inequality),a drop in extreme poverty from 18.0% to 9.8% and an increase in Venezuela’s HDI, between 1999-2014, placing it ahead of countries such as Ecuador and Jamaica. These massive improvements saw Chavez become possibly the most popular head of state in the country’s history. However, 2014 also served as a turning point for Venezuela’s economy and a worsening of the already brewing crisis in the wake of Chavez’s death just a year prior.

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From INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística in Venezuela)

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Human Development Report 2019 for Venezuela (HDI, life expectancy, Education)

2. Political and Economic Basis for Crisis

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis The continuing crisis in Venezuela is the result of 4 main contributing factors: 1)

Fiscal Mismanagement and Corruption

A Dramatic Fall in Oil Prices

Political Instability

International sanctions

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis Fiscal Mismanagement and Corruption During the global rise in oil prices between late 2003 and mid 2008, the Chavez government sought to, introduce and expand expensive largely unsustainable social programs and promote a fiscal policy that was characterized by a series of nationalizations and antimarket reforms such as exchange and price controls. While this did aid in Chavez’s goal of a redistribution of wealth in the society, it also generated high levels of inflation, served to smother private investment, promote a dependence on imports, slow diversification, cause capital flight and made industries less competitive. Corruption was allowed to flourish in the government and state industries due to the vilification of institutions and individuals that sought to criticize or regulate the executive, resulting in an erosion of institutional accountability. Corruption contributed to an absence of foreign direct investment and the failure of state industries. There was also widespread corruption and collusion between government and private sector, with bribery to secure government contracts and manipulating administrative procedures. The private sector also largely contributed to exchange rate distortions effectively devaluing the currency.

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis Dramatic Fall in Oil Prices Oil comprises 95% of Venezuela's exports and 25% of its gross domestic product (GDP), when oil dropped significantly in late 2014, the country's income margins were squeezed to the point where it did not meet its spending, resulting in ballooning debt and an inability to finance social programs. Furthermore, Venezuela’s effective oil prices are made to be lower than international benchmarks, as few companies are willing to assume the risk of being sanctioned by the US for trading Venezuelan oil, hence oil companies are forced to introduce significant discounts despite already falling prices drastically slashing any potential government income

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis Political Instability The political machinery of Venezuela is neither immune to nor unfamiliar with the threat of political instability. With common examples being the attempted coup in 2002, allegations of electoral fraud and refusals to recognize electoral victories by opposition parties as well as foreign governments particularly the US. However, it was the parliamentary and presidential elections 2017 and 2018, as well as the stripping of the legislative powers of the elected National Assembly by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela that have garnered the most global attention and condemnation. In 2015 in the wake of Chavez’s death, plummeting oil prices and growing social discontent due to food shortages and raising inflation, the opposition coalition was able to secure a majority in the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), for the first time since 1999.In response to this the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela comprised to judges said to be loyal to Maduro slowly worked to strip the legislature of its abilities, seizing the role for itself and shifting power to Maduro and the governing coalition, prompting the beginning of the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis. These events resulted in mass protests from March-August 2017.

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis Political Instability In response to these protests Maduro proposed the election of a Constitutional Assembly that would not only replace the National Assembly draft a new constitution that would replace the 1999 Venezuela Constitution. These elections were boycotted by the opposition. The election of and legitimacy of the Constitutional Assembly is not recognized by several regional and international countries and organizations. In 2019, the president of the National Assembly swore himself in as interim president of Venezuela and has received official recognition from by the US and over 50 countries

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis International Sanctions and Intervention Both the Chávez and Maduro administrations consistently faced constant hostility not only from an aggressive internal political opposition that has often resorted to violence, but also from other Western countries particularly, the United States. The US has opposed the ideals of Chavez from day one and served to interfere with Venezuela’s internal affairs including but not limited to an attempted CIA aided coup in 2002, refusals to recognize electoral victories, threats of sanctions, and covert funding for opposition candidates. These attempts sought to create political instability and reduce global confidence in Venezuela. Additionally, economic sanctions imposed by the US and much of its allies in Europe, Asia and Latin America on Venezuelan companies such as state-owned oil company PDVSA, has served to isolate the Venezuelan economy and dramatically decrease the country’s earning potential.

Political and Economic Basis for Crisis Sources: The Other Explanation for Venezuela’s Economic Crisis by Peter Bolton, Research Fellow Council on Hemispheric Affairs Dragon in the Tropics: Hugo Chavez and the Political Economy of Revolution in Venezuela By Javier Corrales, Michael Penfold-Becerra Populism, 21st-century socialism and corruption in Venezuela by Margarita Lo´pez Maya How does the price of oil affect Venezuela's economy? By GREG DEPERSIO article on Investopedia.com Understanding the Impact of Oil Prices Over Venezuela, article written by Jose Ricardo La Rosa Reyes for the Caracas Chronicles

3. Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela continued to experience an unprecedented human rights crisis. Extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force and unlawful killings by the security forces continued as part of a policy of repression to silence dissent.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela ALLEGED EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS Police and security forces have killed nearly 18,000 people in Venezuela in instances of alleged “resistance to authority” since 2016. Interior Minister Néstor Reverol reported in December 2017 that there were 5,995 such cases in 2016 and 4,998 in 2017. Venezuelan security forces killed nearly 7,000 people in incidents they claimed were cases of “resistance to authority” in 2018 and the first five months of 2019, according to official figures cited by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Nobody has yet compiled detailed information as to how many of these killings by security forces have been extrajudicial executions, but OHCHR concluded that “many” may constitute extrajudicial killings. Human Rights Watch documented several such killings in 2019.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela ARBITRARY DETENTION Arbitrary detentions continued as part of the policy of repression implemented by Nicolas Maduro’s government. During protests in January, more than 900 people were detained in five days, 770 of them in a single day. These detentions may also constitute crimes against humanity, since they seem to be part of a widespread attack against those perceived as dissidents.

TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT The OCHCR’s report indicated that in most cases detainees were subjected to torture, including the application of electric shocks, suffocation with plastic bags, near drowning, or sexual violence, among others.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela IMPUNITY According to the OHCHR report, the Attorney General’s Office regularly failed to investigate human rights violations and prosecute those suspected of criminal responsibility, and the Ombudsperson failed to speak out about such violations. The authorities often discouraged victims from filing formal complaints and the police routinely tampered with crime scenes in cases of extrajudicial executions to ensure impunity for their actions.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela PRISON CONDITIONS Prison conditions remained very precarious and reports of inadequate conditions in police detention centres persisted. The Venezuelan Prison Observatory reported 59 deaths in prisons between January and June. Overcrowding and lack of medical attention were the main causes of the spread of disease in prisons. Corruption, weak security, deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowding, insufficient staffing, and poorly trained guards allow armed gangs to exercise effective control over inmate populations. Excessive use of pretrial detention contributes to overcrowding.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY Excessive force was routinely used to repress peaceful protests. The NGO Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict registered 16,739 protests this year, most of them related to economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights, especially collective bargaining, food, health, water and other public services. Armed groups used violence against peaceful protesters and dispersed assemblies commonly.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Several media outlets critical of the government were the targets of censorship and cyber attacks, as were the websites of human rights organizations. NGOs reported that news sites such as El Pitazo and Efecto Cocuyo were blocked 975 times between January and November 2019. For more than a decade, the government has expanded and abused its power to regulate media and reduce the number of dissenting media outlets. The government can suspend or revoke licenses to private media if “convenient for the interests of the nation,” arbitrarily suspend websites for the vaguely defined offense of “incitement,” and criminalize expression of “disrespect” for high government officials. While a few newspapers, websites, and radio stations criticize the government, fear of reprisals has made self-censorship a fundamental problem.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Criminalization, threats, and attacks by government officials against human rights organizations that engaged with international protection mechanisms continued, particularly through state-owned media channels In January, Laura Gallo, head of the Political Prisoners Committee of the opposition Popular Will party and mother of the human rights defender Gabriel Gallo, coordinator of the Penal Forum in Yaracuy, was briefly detained and released on probation. The online government portal Mision Verdad continued stigmatizing defender Marco Antonio Ponce, a beneficiary of precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights since 2015. Organizations targeted on the website of the Television show, Con El Mazo Dando, led by Diosdado Cabello, President of the National Constituent Assembly, were regularly used to attack dissidents and to criminalize and stigmatize human rights defenders and activists. 24

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Trade union leader Rubén González was sentenced by a military court to five years and seven months’ imprisonment on charges relating to a demonstration. He had been arbitrarily detained in November 2018 following his criticism of the government of Nicolas Maduro. In September, human rights and humanitarian organizations denounced new barriers to obtaining legal status and operating freely. The Ministry of People's Power for Internal Relations, Justice and Peace, issued express instructions to impede their registration. Overcompliance of sanctions imposed by the US government to government entities affected NGOs' capacity to use their funds freely, generating an additional obstacle to defend human rights in the country.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY The humanitarian emergency persisted, while the economic measures taken by the authorities proved ineffective. The government continued to refuse to recognize the gravity of the crisis and accept assistance from humanitarian agencies. The flow of people forced to travel to neighbouring countries to access the most basic goods increased. In August, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuelan government entities. Overcompliance, both within the USA and beyond, with these sanctions led to obstacles in accessing goods in Venezuela, exacerbating the existing scarcity of basic goods and services. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, seven million people in Venezuela were in need of humanitarian assistance. 26

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY Venezuelans are facing severe shortages of medicine, medical supplies, and food, seriously undermining their rights to health and food. In 2017, the Venezuelan health minister released official data indicating that during 2016 maternal mortality had increased 65 percent, and infant mortality 30 percent. Days later, the health minister was fired. The government has not since published epidemiological bulletins. Venezuela’s health system is in utter collapse, with the re-emergence and spread of vaccine-preventable diseases previously declared eliminated, such as measles and diphtheria, and increases in outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Research by Venezuelan organizations and universities documents high levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition among Venezuelans. 27

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela RIGHT TO HEALTH Serious shortages in basic health services and medicines, as well as the exodus of health personnel, adversely affected people’s ability to access adequate health care. The increasingly frequent and sustained power cuts caused irreparable damage to health services and infrastructure. NGOs continued to report the re-emergence of diseases that had been under control or eradicated, including measles and diphtheria. The National Hospital Survey found that, between November 2018 and February 2019, 1,557 people died due to lack of hospital supplies. People living with HIV continued to highlight the dangers they faced due to the shortage and intermittent supply of antiretrovirals. NGOs reported that 70% of the more than 300,000 people in need of treatment for HIV, were affected by these shortages. It is impossible to know the full scale of the challenges in accessing health, as the authorities have failed to publish health data in a timely manner. For example, no epidemiological data had been published by authorities since 2017. 28

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS Access to all types of contraception was extremely limited and, in some cities, non-existent. Adolescent pregnancies had increased by 65% since 2015, impacting girls' right to education, according to the OHCHR. Maternal mortality remained a concern, with reports of deaths resulting from unsafe abortions. The lack of qualified personnel, shortages of medical supplies and poor conditions in hospitals prompted many women to leave the country to give birth.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela RIGHT TO FOOD Hyperinflation and economic and social policies reduced food production and weakened distribution systems. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that 6,8 million Venezuelans were undernourished. Purchasing power decreased drastically, resulting in severe constraints on access to food. The humanitarian organization Caritas reported high levels of malnutrition among children and pregnant women. Local organizations complained of violations of the right to food since the main food assistance programme did not cover people’s nutritional needs, the quality of the food and the periodicity of its distribution were the main concerns. The authorities also did not allow access to information on the caloric content and quality of the programme. 30

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela RIGHT TO WATER Restricted access to drinking water and sanitation continued to affect a significant part of the population. NGOs reported that, on average, people had access to drinking water only for 48 hours per week, particularly in lower income areas. The degradation of the power grid also impacted on people’s access to water during periods of power outages, which affected not only individuals but also health services and morgues, among others.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela INDIGENOUS PEOPLES The rights of Indigenous Peoples were not respected or guaranteed. On 23 February, in the city of Santa Elena, bordering Venezuela and Brazil, the Bolivarian National Guard used excessive force against Indigenous people going to the border to receive humanitarian aid. The OHCHR confirmed that seven people died and 26 were injured by gunfire by military forces. In the absence of medical supplies, the injured were taken to a Brazilian hospital. No independent and impartial investigation had been initiated into the incident by the end of the year. Reports showed around 900 Pemon individuals forcibly displaced to Brazil, fleeing from the violence. The presence of military personnel organized criminal gangs and armed groups caused violence and insecurity in Indigenous territories in various parts of the country. Reports of illegal mining continued. Indigenous communities continued to condemn the impact of mineral extraction on their communities and environment. 32

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela Special thanks to: https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/americas/venezuela/report-venezuela/ https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/venezuela

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela Crisis Timeline: Taken from: https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/venezuela-crisis-facts ●

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1920s to 1970s: Oil is discovered in Venezuela, which is found to have the world’s largest reserves. The nation’s economic development is based on rising prices and profits in oil exports. 1980s to 1990s: Global oil prices fall; Venezuela’s economy contracts. The country faces massive debt. 1998: Hugo Chavez, former leader of a 1992 coup attempt, is elected president. He promises to use the country’s oil wealth to improve the lives of the poor. 2000s: Chavez expands social services, but corruption is rampant, and a steady decline in oil production reduces oil reserves and increases government debt. 2010 to 2012: Chavez’s attempts at economic reform — currency devaluation and price controls — are ineffective. 34

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela Crisis Timeline: ●

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2013: After 14 years of rule, Chavez dies of cancer at age 58. Chosen successor Vice President Nicolás Maduro assumes the presidency and narrowly wins an election. With inflation at more than 50% a year, the National Assembly gives Maduro emergency powers for a year, beginning in November. 2014: Public spending is curtailed because of low oil prices. Anti-government protests are broken up with force. 2015: The opposition Democratic Unity Party wins control of the National Assembly, ending 16 years of Socialist Party rule. 2016: The economy is in crisis, and the healthcare system lacks funding. Hunger and malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, and unemployment increase alarmingly.

Human Rights Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela Crisis Timeline: ● ●

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2017: Maduro’s government creates a new legislative body, which assumes the right to pass laws. Crackdowns in response to anti-government protests leave more than 100 dead. 2018: Maduro wins the presidency again in a low-turnout election that was seen by many countries as fraudulent because of low participation by opposition parties. To tackle hyperinflation, the government slashes five zeroes from the face value of its old currency and ties the new “sovereign bolivar” to a cryptocurrency that can’t be traded. In November, the U.N. estimates that 3 million Venezuelans have migrated because of the economic crisis and shortages in food and medical care. 2019: Maduro is sworn in for his second six-year term. As opposition leader and head of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó declares himself to be interim president according to the constitution. He is recognized as such by the U.S., Canada, and Venezuela’s Latin American neighbors. 2020: As the coronavirus pandemic spreads in Latin America, border closings and the collapse of global oil prices have made life even harder for Venezuelans. 36

4. Impact On Neighbouring Countries and Response of Global Community

Venezuela is in crisis. The economy has collapsed, and an uprising of political opposition to President Nicolas Maduro has put the country’s leadership in question. About 5 million Venezuelan people have left the country seeking food, work, and a better life. An estimated 1.8 million people have settled in Colombia, 861,000 in Peru, 456,000 in Chile, 366,000 in Ecuador, and 253,000 in Brazil. Close to 400,000 Venezuelans are in the United States and about 300,000 in Spain, according to the U.N. International Organization on Migration.

Photos from: https://reliefweb.int/report/venezuela-bolivarian-republic/venezue la-crisis-response-situation-report-august-2020 https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/venezuelan-exodus Taken from: https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/venezuel a-crisis-facts

5. Our Response here in Trinidad

Influx of Venezuelans into Trinidad: According to the UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency) report dated March, 2018, there are an estimated 40,000 Venezuelans in Trinidad and Tobago. The total number of arrivals of Venezuelans in Trinidad and Tobago is much lower than that in many Latin American countries; however, as a percentage of its population, it has received more Venezuelans than almost any other country.

Lack of Legislation in Trinidad: In Trinidad and Tobago, the lack of domestic legislation for refugees and asylum seekers and the lack of an effective migration policy have failed to afford these individuals adequate rights and assistance. However. In the early 2019, the government of Trinidad and Tobago finally embarked on a nationwide Venezuelan Migrant registration process in an effort to register both legal and illegal venezuelan nationals. It took place between May 31 and June 14, 2019, and cost around 5 million dollars to conduct.

Lack of Access to Education for Refugee Children: The lack of access to education for the children of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants is another issue of great concern. Trinidad and Tobago has acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is therefore obliged to make primary education compulsory and free to all children regardless of their legal status.

Other Social Concerns: There are very serious concerns about xenophobia against Venezuelans in the country. As human smuggling and trafficking networks proliferate and prey on vulnerable Venezuelans, boat arrivals and deaths at sea are on the rise in the Caribbean Sea. Gaps are also present in the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence. Reports are on the rise of Venezuelan women forced to engage in survival sex, prostitution, and being victimized by traffickers taking advantage of their extreme vulnerability. Access to health is also limited and there are cases of Venezuelans who have died in the Caribbean, after delaying the seeking of care out of fear of being detained and deported, including in emergency situations.

Taken from: http://magnalawchambers.com/2019/03/17/venezuelan-refugees-in-trinidad/ http://www.looptt.com/content/8-things-know-about-venezuelan-migrant-registration-process Photo From: http://www.looptt.com/content/8-things-know-about-venezuelan-migrant-registration-process

The catholic Church with their NGO Living Waters Community spearheaded the efforts to help the migrants as well as other migrant ministries

Migrant Ministries in Trinidad UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency Living Waters Ministry to Asylum Seekers and Refugees MIgrant Ministry of the Archdiocese