Testimonies from Unicef from relatives of the detained young people
The mothers of the young people detained after post-electoral protests in Venezuela went to the Unicef headquarters in Caracas this Monday to ask the organization to intercede and help them in the release of their children. loved ones.
Nérida Ruiz, one of the parents, indicated that her son attended the preliminary hearing last Wednesday and was then taken to trial. Likewise, he highlighted that he was accused of “terrorism, incitement to hatred and qualified theft.”
“Please take action, check the cases and help us for the freedom of our children,” Ruiz asked Unicef while highlighting that in the Venezuelan capital there are “eight adolescents” who remain deprived of liberty.
He added that what they expect is “speed in the process.”
«My son is studying in his sixth year of Accounting, he has missed three weeks of classes. And that is one of his concerns, not being able to be there, detained, not being able to continue with his studies. “He wants to progress.” he pointed out.
Relatives of minors detained in the context of the protests unleashed after the presidential elections of July 28 in Venezuela delivered a document to Unicef in Caracas on Monday, in which they ask the UN agency to intercede for the release of the minors. 70 children and adolescents who – they say – remain imprisoned, as well as to verify what conditions they are in.
The arrests occurred in the days after the presidential elections, when thousands of Venezuelans came out to protest against the official results of the elections.
Of the 142 minors who, according to the document, were captured, 70 remain in detention centers, where – relatives say – “they live in inhumane conditions not suitable for their age and condition, in violation of international standards.”
Those close to the minors – accused of terrorism and inciting hatred, among other crimes – explained that these conditions “include overcrowding, lack of access to basic health services, poor nutrition and lack of protection against physical and psychological abuse.”
In addition, they warned Unicef of the “alarming situation of children and young people” who, they insist, “are being unjustly detained” and asked for urgent help for their release.
Katherine Martínez explained that her husband was summoned to the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (Cicpc), where he went on August 4 with his 17-year-old daughter, who was detained at the scene.
«We went to accompany him (her husband), they made us enter the Cicpc (..). They told us: ‘she is the one who stays because she is in a WhatsApp group.’ “My daughter is detained for being in a WhatsApp group,” she said, without specifying the reasons for summoning her husband.
Martínez pointed out that “they are asking for 10 years (in prison) for her” for the crime of “incitement to hate.”.
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