Venezuelans have brought their crimes-against-humanity case to a federal court 3,000 miles from home — in Argentina. They're frustrated by the limits of the laboriously slow International Criminal Court and determined that the security officers who they say killed their loved ones not enjoy absolute impunity.
FILE - Demonstrators holds cardboard posters showing images of family and friends killed during anti-government protests, in Caracas, Venezuela , March 18, 2014. An Argentine federal court in Buenos Aires on June 28, 2024, concluded testimony from Venezuela n victims as part of an investigation into probable human rights abuses allegedly committed by security forces during the 2014 clampdown on mass anti-government protests.
“Those testifying are people who have sought justice in Venezuela for a very long time, and have reached the end of where they can go,” said Yasmine Chubin, a legal advocate at the Clooney Foundation, a nonprofit founded by George and Amal Clooney that provides free legal support to victims of human rights abuses. “They’re continuing to fight to hold those responsible to account, and that led to us filing this case.
The foundation said it chose to file its case — complete with 15,000 pages of documentation — in Argentina because of the country’s proximity to Venezuela, its large community of Venezuelan immigrants, and its broad interpretation of universal jurisdiction, a product of its 1983 transition to democracy
There’s no saying how long the process might take, but lawyers say they’re encouraged by the speed with which Argentina decided to launch its investigation — just one month after the foundation filed its complaint. While the case is unlikely to produce arrests“Depending on the situation with universal jurisdiction, you might be looking for symbolic results. That’s not our case,” said Ignacio Jovtis, senior program manager at the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
Argentina Buenos Aires Argentina Government Venezuela Government Courts General News Latin America Politics World News Amal Clooney I Crime International Criminal Court
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As Maduro shifts from migration denier to defender, Venezuelans consider leaving if he is reelectedPresident Nicolás Maduro for years refused to admit that millions of people were leaving Venezuela to seek a better future abroad
Read more »
As Maduro shifts from migration denier to defender, Venezuelans consider leavingThe prospect of President Nicolás Maduro winning reelection has prompted many Venezuelans to make plans to leave the country.
Read more »
Argentine senate approves President Milei's 'austerity package'Argentina has applied a drastic, all-out fiscal austerity program, with the aim of achieving 'zero budget deficit' by the end of 2024 to tame chronic inflation.
Read more »
Argentine Congress seals 1st legislative win for President Milei after months of debate and protestsArgentina’s lower house has approved President Javier Milei's sweeping economic overhaul bills, sealing a much-needed legislative victory for the libertarian leader after six months of bruising negotiations and raucous protests that had raised questions about his ability to govern.
Read more »
Argentine Congress seals 1st legislative win for President Milei after months of debate and protestsArgentina’s lower house has approved President Javier Milei's sweeping economic overhaul bills, sealing a much-needed legislative victory for the libertarian leader after six months of bruising negotiations and raucous protests that had raised questions about his ability to govern.
Read more »
Argentine Congress seals 1st legislative win for President Milei after months of debate and protestsArgentina’s lower house has approved President Javier Milei's sweeping economic overhaul bills, sealing a much-needed legislative victory for the libertarian leader after six months of bruising negotiations and raucous protests that had raised questions about his ability to govern.
Read more »