Venezuela's National Assembly leader sets a deadline for prisoner release, as a positive step towards addressing human rights abuses under former President Nicolas Maduro. The government plans to free all political prisoners no later than February 13, according to Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly.
Rodriguez announced the deadline during a visit to the Zona 7 detention center in Caracas, where he spoke with family members of imprisoned activists. He said that his government would "repair all the mistakes" committed by previous administrations.
The amnesty bill has been approved by the National Assembly in two votes and is expected to be signed into law soon. However, critics are skeptical about the government's intentions, citing a history of human rights abuses under Maduro's leadership.
According to human rights groups like Foro Penal, only around 383 prisoners have been released so far, with many more still behind bars for their political activities. The group has also recorded cases of released prisoners facing gag orders and harassment from government-aligned forces.
The US has pressured the Venezuelan government to comply with its demands, including the release of imprisoned dissidents like Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. The Trump administration's abduction of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on January 3 was widely seen as a positive step towards holding those in power accountable for human rights abuses.
However, experts warn that there is no guarantee that the new government will maintain its commitment to human rights and justice. Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said that crimes against humanity do not end with Maduro's removal, and that many people who were subjected to enforced disappearance remain unresolved.
The Venezuelan government has announced plans to close one of its most notorious prisons, El Helicoide, which has been accused of torture and other human rights abuses. However, critics argue that this move is too little, too late, and that the government's actions must be accompanied by meaningful reforms and accountability for past abuses.
As the deadline for prisoner release approaches, concerns persist about whether human rights commitments will be maintained and justice will be served to those who have been wronged under Maduro's leadership.
Rodriguez announced the deadline during a visit to the Zona 7 detention center in Caracas, where he spoke with family members of imprisoned activists. He said that his government would "repair all the mistakes" committed by previous administrations.
The amnesty bill has been approved by the National Assembly in two votes and is expected to be signed into law soon. However, critics are skeptical about the government's intentions, citing a history of human rights abuses under Maduro's leadership.
According to human rights groups like Foro Penal, only around 383 prisoners have been released so far, with many more still behind bars for their political activities. The group has also recorded cases of released prisoners facing gag orders and harassment from government-aligned forces.
The US has pressured the Venezuelan government to comply with its demands, including the release of imprisoned dissidents like Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. The Trump administration's abduction of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on January 3 was widely seen as a positive step towards holding those in power accountable for human rights abuses.
However, experts warn that there is no guarantee that the new government will maintain its commitment to human rights and justice. Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said that crimes against humanity do not end with Maduro's removal, and that many people who were subjected to enforced disappearance remain unresolved.
The Venezuelan government has announced plans to close one of its most notorious prisons, El Helicoide, which has been accused of torture and other human rights abuses. However, critics argue that this move is too little, too late, and that the government's actions must be accompanied by meaningful reforms and accountability for past abuses.
As the deadline for prisoner release approaches, concerns persist about whether human rights commitments will be maintained and justice will be served to those who have been wronged under Maduro's leadership.
...and 383 prisoners released already? that's like, a drop in the bucket, still got so many more people behind bars for no reason...also weird that they're trying to spin this as them "repairing mistakes" instead of just letting people go and giving 'em back their lives 
. i mean, we need to see more than just empty promises from the government before we can start celebrating.
. we need real, tangible action here, not just some PR stunt to make it look like they're doing something right.
. are they actually gonna hold those in power accountable for their crimes? or is this just another way for them to wash their hands clean before passing the buck? only time will tell, but for now i'm keeping my skepticism high 
.
but at the same time its gonna take more than just releasing some prisoners to fix everything. It's like, you gotta put your money where your mouth is, you know? 
I mean, 383 released and still many behind bars, that don't add up to much. And what about the ones who got tortured or disappeared? That's a whole 'nother level of messed up.
it's all a bit too vague for me...
. It shows that they're taking responsibility for their actions and trying to make amends.
. There are still so many unanswered questions and concerns about whether these releases will lead to genuine reform or just more of the same 
. And what about those who have been released but then faced harassment or gag orders? That's not okay at all 
.
. It's also super important that the new government holds itself accountable for its actions and doesn't just sweep everything under the rug 
.
!
It's also a bit suspicious that some of the released prisoners are getting gag orders and harassment from the government. That doesn't sound like a very free-and-fair release to me... 
... i mean, Trumps admin move was a good step but its not like they're actually gonna make sure it stays consistent now 
I mean, 383 people is a start, but at least it shows they're trying, right? And the fact that Jorge Rodriguez is speaking out and taking action is really inspiring - it's like he's not just some politician saying empty words, he actually wants to make a difference 
