Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

“Canada is alarmed by the report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighting serious ongoing human rights violations under the Maduro regime. The report also underscores impunity for these abuses, as well as the grave impact of the crisis on Venezuelans’ rights to health and food.

“This report builds on others—including the May 29 report by the Organization of American States’ Panel of Independent International Experts that crimes against humanity have been committed in Venezuela—and provides mounting evidence against the regime. Numerous reports have documented a range of serious abuses committed by the Maduro regime, including extrajudicial killings, the use of excessive force against demonstrators, arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment, and torture.

“The Maduro regime has again made its intentions clear: it is only interested in retaining power, at the cost of the growing suffering of the Venezuelan people.

“Canada calls for an end to these abuses and for the perpetrators of these serious crimes and human rights violations to be brought to justice. Canadians will continue to stand with the people of Venezuela.”