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(Reuters) – Member states of the Organization of American States today adopted a draft resolution on the situation in Venezuela that includes a call for Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to publish polling station-level results from the July 28 presidential election.
Resolution on the situation in Venezuela
(Proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay)
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States,
Bearing in mind the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the Organization of American States, which affirms the commitment of Member States to democracy, human rights, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and respect for international law;
Recognizing that Article II of the Inter-American Democratic Charter provides that “the effective exercise of representative democracy is the foundation of the rule of law…”;
Recognizing also that Article 3 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter provides that “the fundamental elements of representative democracy consist, inter alia, (…) in the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections, based on secret ballot and universal suffrage, as an expression of the sovereignty of the people…”;
Recognizing further that Article 11 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter states that “democracy and social and economic development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing”;
Reaffirming that the fundamental purpose of the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, while fully respecting the principle of non-intervention expressed in Article 2 (b) of the Charter of the OAS;
Notes with concern reports of serious irregularities and violence during the electoral process following the July 28, 2024 elections in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
Reaffirming that maintaining social peace and protecting people’s lives and fundamental freedoms are the primary tasks;
Recalling the Agreement on the Comprehensive and Incremental Dialogue and Negotiation Process of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Venezuelan political parties in Mexico City on August 13, 2021, and the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All signed in Barbados on October 17, 2023;
resolution:
Recognize the large and peaceful participation of Venezuelan voters in the July 28, 2024 elections.
Firmly upholding respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the right to life, liberty and security of the person, in particular the right to peaceful assembly, the right to the full exercise of civil and political rights without reprisals, the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or imprisoned, and the right to a fair trial is an absolute priority and obligation for Venezuela and all countries in the Americas.
Calls on all stakeholders, political and social actors, including the Venezuelan authorities, to refrain from any actions that could jeopardize a peaceful solution to this crisis and to fully respect the sovereign will of the Venezuelan electorate.
Requests the authorities of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to protect diplomatic facilities and personnel residing in Venezuelan territory, including individuals seeking asylum in such facilities, in accordance with international law, in particular the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Emphasizes the importance of protecting and preserving all equipment used in the election process, including all printed election records and results, to ensure the entire chain of custody of the voting process.
Urges the National Electoral Council of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to: (a) promptly publish the presidential election records, including the voting results of each polling station; and (b) respect the fundamental principle of popular sovereignty and impartially verify the results to ensure the transparency, credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process.
Express solidarity with the Venezuelan people and pledge to continue to pay attention to the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
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Footnote: The Republic of Panama wishes to clarify that it has recognized the electoral victory of candidate Edmundo González and that it supports this resolution in order to promote mutual understanding among the countries of the Western Hemisphere in the face of a serious violation of popular will in Venezuela and to support the multilateral actions that must be taken as soon as possible to ensure respect for the electoral rights of the Venezuelan State.
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