UN accuses Latin American state of ‘crimes against humanity’
September 22, 2022, 9:00 am

UN accuses Latin American state of ‘crimes against humanity’

Venezuelan security forces are accused of crimes against humanity on the orders of President Nicolas Maduro - Photo. Pixabay

A United Nations team tasked with investigating alleged human rights abuses in Venezuela has accused officials of “crimes against humanity,” claiming government security forces were carrying out serious violations on the order of President Nicolas Maduro.

Presented on Tuesday (Sep 20), the fact-finding report is based on nearly 250 interviews with Venezuelan nationals, including 50 former officials, and accuses Maduro of taking concerted action to repress his political opponents.

“In doing so, grave crimes and human rights violations are being committed, including acts of torture and sexual violence,” Marta Valinas, who leads the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, said in a statement, adding the country “is still facing a profound human rights crisis.”

The report also claims authorities have taken little action against alleged rights abusers, saying the government has “failed to hold perpetrators to account and provide reparations to victims.”

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, in a handout picture released by Venezuela's presidential palace, has been indicted by the United States on "narco-terrorism" charges File photo AFP

Opposition figures, including students, journalists and NGO workers, are frequently targeted for arrest, sometimes at the personal direction of Diosdado Cabello, a high-ranking official who leads the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the UN said.

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The fact-finding mission claimed to have documented 122 cases of “torture, sexual violence and/or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” by Venezuela’s Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), a top intelligence outfit.

Caracas, which has dismissed similar charges in the past, has yet to respond to the latest UN report, which is set to be shared with the body’s Human Rights Council sometime in the coming weeks.

Source: rt

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”