Senators Coons, Tillis call for release of human rights defenders across Latin America

WILMINGTON, Del. - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Co-Chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, released the following statement today:

"In less than one month, the Venezuelan people will go to the polls to vote in elections that are neither free nor fair. President Nicolás Maduro has consistently undermined democracy, rule of law, and the electoral process in his country. Under his regime, innocent civilians have disappeared and been detained, tortured, and imprisoned for expressing any dissenting opinion against the government. As we approach the July 28 election date, it is critical that we bring attention to the widespread injustices that human rights defenders under Maduro's regime are facing every day.

"At the same time, we also cannot forget about ongoing human rights abuses not only in Venezuela, but across the Western Hemisphere. Latin America remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for human rights defenders. In 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported the murder of at least 126 human rights defenders. It is imperative that we do everything we can to support the work of human rights defenders who risk their lives every day to advocate for greater freedoms in their country.

"Specifically, we call for the immediate and unconditional release of:

· Rocío San Miguel, a widely respected security expert and vocal critic of the Maduro regime, who has been wrongfully imprisoned since February for her advocacy of civilian oversight of Venezuela's security apparatus;

· Human rights defender Javier Tarazona, who remains wrongfully detained since 2021 for his outspokenness against human rights abuses committed by Venezuelan security forces, including through the documentation of connections between the Venezuelan military and armed groups;

· Former anticorruption prosecutor Virginia Laparra, who is under house arrest and facing arbitrary criminal charges for her judicial work to defend rule of law and justice in Guatemala; and

· Artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez, who have been sentenced to five and nine years in prison, respectively, for their tireless efforts to protect freedom of expression and artistic freedom in Cuba."

In addition to serving as Co-Chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, Senator Coons is Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.