The executive secretary of the National Council for Human Rights, Larry Devoe, offered this Friday a balance of the Public Consultation process on the implementation of the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which ran from September 15 to October 23 of this year.
Devoe pointed out that 86% of the women who participated in the consultation indicated that the commercial and financial blockade illegally imposed by the United States Government on Venezuela has affected the progressive development of the human rights of women and girls in the country .
Likewise, he pointed out that 42% of the people consulted highlighted that the main effects of this blockade are the difficulties of supplying medicines for women with chronic diseases, as well as the provision of contraceptive methods and supplies for the comprehensive health care of women.
During the “Seminar on CEDAW: Progress, challenges and joint responsibility in its implementation and follow-up”, which takes place this November 14 and 15 of this year via Zoom, the representative of the National Human Rights Council indicated that more than 9,000 women participated in this consultation throughout the country and it is still open on the website: https://consejoderechoshumanos.gob.ve/
Of the total number of people who participated in the consultation, 91.4% were women and 87.5% were between 18 and 55 years old. Likewise, 61% of them considered that the most important action in advancing the human rights of women and girls is the strengthening of labor policies, the economic empowerment of women and social protection policies.
This consultation gathered the opinion of social movements and organizations and representatives of various sectors of society, highlighting: academics and scientists, women with disabilities, peasants and community members, women’s and feminist movements, sex-diversity, Afro-descendant and indigenous, youth, Human Rights organizations, missionary and deprived of liberty, among others.
Likewise, public servants of the Supreme Court of Justice, Public Ministry, Ombudsman’s Office, Executive Branch (People’s Power Ministry for Defense; Internal Relations, Justice and Peace; Health, Food, Women and Gender Equality, Youth and Sports, Indigenous Peoples, University Education, Labor, Housing, Communes and Penitentiary Affairs, Communication and Information, Electric Power and Finance; social missions, Conapdis), Legislative: ANC, legislative and municipal councils; mayors and the Electoral Power, among others participated.