Maduro government widens control over venezuelan NGOs

More than 90 entities have expressed concern on the Venezuelan government's attacks and persecutions against NGOs

Venezuela 03 02 2019 - Nicolás Maduro presidente da Venezuela com as Força Militares venezuelana disse as tropas Hoje o futuro da Venezuela é decidido, se a Venezuela vai se tornar uma estrela da bandeira gringo ou continuará a voar sua tricolor com suas 8 estrelas livres e soberanas" FOTO TNM

Civil society organizations are being intimidated by Nicolás Maduro’s government. Attacks, though not physical, are carried out through various decrees and regulations. One of which is the publication  on 30th of March, where a new regulation was published in the official gazette mandating NGOs (non-governmental organizations)  to provide confidential data about their contributions and beneficiaries.

The resolution is nothing new during Maduro’s government. In October 2020, another resolution required international NGOs to register “the activities to be carried out in the territory” and their intentions. The resolutions appear with the intention of intimidating and restricting organizations in Venezuela. 

In the first quarter of 2021 alone, Cepaz (Centro de Justicia y paz) registered 215 cases of persecution and criminalization by the Maduro government. For this reason, more than 90 civil society organizations, including Conectas, have signed a document that urges Venezuelan authorities to end repression against NGOs.

“Venezuela is in dire need of  a peaceful and democratic solution to the political, humanitarian and human rights crisis it faces. However, such solution will not be possible without an independent and active civil society to promote it ”, the document says.

Read the full document here (in Spanish).