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OAS General Secretary Communicates Venezuela´s Decision to Denounce the American Convention on Human Rights

  September 10, 2012

The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela today informed the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, through an official letter, that it is denouncing the American Convention on Human Rights.

According to the Convention, in its Article 78: “1. The States Parties may denounce this Convention (…) by means of notice given one year in advance. Notice of the denunciation shall be addressed to the Secretary General of the Organization, who shall inform the other States Parties. 2. Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the State Party concerned from the obligations contained in this Convention with respect to any act that may constitute a violation of those obligations and that has been taken by that state prior to the effective date of denunciation.”

The OAS Secretary General regrets the decision taken by the government of Venezuela to denounce this legal instrument, one of the pillars of the legal regulations that protect the defense of human rights in the hemisphere.

The Secretary General expressed his hope that in the year that must elapse before the decision becomes effective, as established by Art.78, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela may reconsider its decision.

Reference: E-307/12