The International Association of Democratic Lawyers, in accordance with its democratic principles and its organizational processes, expresses that the population of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim of an economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States of America, Canada and their European Union allies, which formally began on December 18 ^th , 2014, with the approval of the US Congress Act 113-278, which has generated a serious and massive violation of Venezuelans’ human rights to life, health, personal integrity and food.

These unilateral coercive measures prevent the Venezuelan State from managing its international reserves and other resources found in the international financial system. In addition, it has practically paralyzed the oil industry, which represented more than 95% of the country’s income, to the extent that a gasoline supply crisis has been created in the country with the largest proven hydrocarbon reserves in the world.

Since March 2020, Venezuela has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the appearance of which has generated a real threat to human life and health. The pandemic has put health care systems to the test and negatively affected economies around the world.

Faced with this reality, the Venezuelan State has expressed its willingness to acquire the vaccines for COVID-19 in order to guarantee life and health and vaccinate free of charge all people in equal conditions. However, it has not been able to buy them since its international resources are in foreign private banks that do not allow the Venezuelan State to administer and access its own funds, due to the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States of America and the European Union.

The IADL calls upon the international community and relevant financial institutions as follows:

1. IADL calls upon the international financial system and relevant banks to urgently release the financial resources which would allow the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to acquire for its population the doses for the vaccine against COVID-19.
2. IADL demands that the States that impose an economic, financial and commercial blockade to the detriment of the Venezuelan population immediately cease these actions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. IADL urges the Secretary General of the United Nations and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to adopt all measures at their disposal to achieve these tasks.

Adopted: 7 February 2021

RESOLUTION OF THE AIJD URGING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO END THE BLOCKADE ON VENEZUELA

The International Association of Democratic Jurists, faithful to its democratic principles and the institutional order that governs them, states that the population of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim of an economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States of America, Canada and their allies of the European Union, which formally began on December 18, 2014, with the approval in the North American Congress of Law 113-278, which has generated a serious and massive violation of their human rights to life, health, personal integrity and food.

These unilateral coercive measures prevent the Venezuelan State from managing its international reserves and other resources found in the international financial system, in addition to having caused the oil industry, which represented more than 95% of its income, to have practically paralyzed, to the point that a gasoline-naphtha supply crisis has been generated in the country with the largest proven hydrocarbon reserves in the world.

Since March 2020, Venezuela has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the appearance of which has generated a real threat to the life and health of humanity and has put health care systems to the test and negatively affected the economy. all over the world.

Faced with this reality, the Venezuelan State has expressed its willingness to acquire the vaccines for COVID-19 and apply them free of charge to guarantee the life and health of all people in equal conditions. However, it has not been able to buy them because its international resources are in foreign private banks that do not allow the Venezuelan State to administer them, in execution of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States of America and the European Union.

From the AIJD we address the international community and the financial system in order to:

1. Request the international financial system to urgently release the financial resources that allow the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to acquire the doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 for its population.
2. Demand the States that impose the Economic, Financial and Commercial Blockade to the detriment of the Venezuelan population to immediately cease these actions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. To urge the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to adopt all measures within their reach to achieve this task.

*Originally published on February 7, 2021