Friday, August 4, 2017

UN urged to act over Venezuela

Months of protest, violence, and a vote last weekend that some countries labeled unconstitutionally creating a dictatorship. 

The situation in Venezuela has caused international concern. 

So why hasn't the United Nations, the body created to address global crises, take action? 

Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York. 


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Months of anti-government protests have turned Venezuela into a country on the move.
But there is criticism, and concern, that this pace of protest is not being reflected by the United Nations.
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Last month diplomat Isaias Medina resigned from his post at the Venezuela mission in New York, saying he could no longer support the actions of his government.

SOT - Isaias Medina, Former Diplomat at Venezuelan Mission to UN: "I felt that what Maduro's regime is doing is contrary to the principles of the United Nations Charter and that it would be incoherent to keep working in such an institution of international and multilateral fore, that I respect so much, and it would be hypocritical."

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The Venezuela mission to the UN declined to comment.
Following last weekend's vote, the Secretary General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric expressed concern. 

SOT - Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General: "The Secretary-General reiterates his firm belief that a political negotiation is urgently needed."

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And in Geneva the spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell urged peace. 

SOT - Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: "We really want to repeat our call for calm and for peaceful protest."

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But an NGO based in Geneva that monitors the UN for accountability feels action, not just words, is needed. Here's Hillel Neuer from UN Watch. 

SOT - Hillel Neuer, UN Watch: "What should happen is the United Nations Human Rights Council is the UN body that is supposed to address issues like this among other bodies - it's a 47-nation body. They should meet now in emergency session because among other things Venezuela is one of their members and as a member state, you are obliged to, you have an extra obligation to promote human rights."

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Meanwhile, here in New York, the UN Security Council has only spoken about Venezuela once - almost two months ago. And not is a scheduled session of its own, but squeezed into Any Other Business. And that was the best the United States, who called the meeting, could achieve.
But Michael John Williams, for Professor for International Relations at New York University says the Security Council, set up to focus on conflicts between countries, struggles to agree when asked to judge conflict within countries. 

SOT - Michael John Williams, New York University's International Relations Program
"Venezuela is a microcosm for a larger conflict of one where the United States and its global liberal order proposes intervention to uphold liberal values of democracy. And other states like Russia and China pursue a more sovereigns approach of non-intervention."

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Many within the international community want the UN to put pressure on the Venezuelan government.
But with member countries stymied by geopolitics divisions, calls for action rather than action itself, may be the best the UN can achieve.

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