User talk:Rd232/Human rights in Venezuela

General

 * IACHR Annual Report 2008
 * AI 2009
 * AI


 * reproductive rights
 * extrajudicial killings and related

Indigenous rights

 * Van Cott (2003), "Andean Indigenous Movements and Constitutional Transformation: Venezuela in Comparative Perspective", Latin American Perspectives 30(1)
 * " In the 1990s, as other Latin American countries enshrined a common set of indigenous collective rights in national constitutions, Venezuela became the most backward country in the region with respect to indigenous rights"(Van Cott 2003:51). 1961 constitution omitted rights in the 1947 constitution, and the indigenous rights law foreseen in the 61 languished for a decade, unpassed by 1999. Indigenous population is only around 1.5% nationwide, though nearly 50% in Amazonas state. (p52) 3 seats were reserved for indigenous delegates in the 131-member constitutional assembly which drew up the 1999 Constitution.(p55) Two additional indigenous delegates won seats in the elections.(p56) Ultimately the constitutional process produced "the region's most progressive indigenous rights regime". (p63) Innovations included "guaranteeing political representation at all levels of government (Art. 125) and prohibiting the registration of patents related to indigenous genetic resources or intellectual property associated with indigenous knowledge (Art. 124) " (p63)
 * "Following the example of Colombia, which set aside two indigenous seats in its Senate, three indigenous seats are reserved in Venezuela’s unicameral National Assembly. The Venezuelan constitution also reserves indigenous seats in state assemblies and municipal councils in districts with indigenous populations—the only Latin American constitution to do so. " (p65)