Human rights body wants details on Venezuelan refugees

THE INTER-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) wants details of the conditions at the state-controlled quarantine facility at the heliport in Chaguaramas, as well as information on the deportation of Venezuelan asylum-seekers.

A release from the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) on Friday said it had submitted a request to the IACHR for precautionary measures in July.

It said it received a response on Wednesday, and was told that the IACHR had written to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for information on the CCHR’s request for precautionary measures; the number of asylum-seekers and refugees registered with the government; the deportation of Venezuelans; and conditions at the heliport.

The IACHR has also asked for information on measures taken by the Government to comply with the principle of non-refoulment, as well as the measures taken to protect the asylum-seekers’ and refugees’ right to life, personal integrity and health in the deportation process.

The release said the Government was given five days to respond to the IACHR’s request.

Precautionary measures are mechanisms issued by the IACHR in emergency situations to protect victims of human-rights violations from imminent danger and threats to their safety and security.

Organisation of American States (OAS) members are obliged to comply with precautionary measures and obliged under international law, the CCHR release said.

On Wednesday, the IACHR issued protection orders for six Venezuelan children who were part of a group who returned to TT last month. The international human rights body asked TT to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the rights to life to the six by refraining from deporting or expelling them to Venezuela until authorities have assessed the risks they face.

Of the 25 Venezuelans, mostly women and children, applications for interim relief were granted for 19 of them, while the State gave an undertaking that itwould not deport three. As a result 22 of them who are protected from being deported at least until their claims in court are determined.