Content:
Indefinition of Socialism of the XXI Century
Constitutional reform violates the constitution of 1999
The inefficiency, corruption and bureaucracy as harms of the government
Poverty lowers and the poor increase their intake capacity
Increasing criminalization of protest

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The situation of the country in which the economic, social and politic events took place during the period covered by this report, reflects an extreme complexity, which is contradictorily favorable and adverse at the same time for the fulfillment of human rights. Venezuela is moving towards structural changes under the conduction of a coalition of political forces led by President Chavez whose purpose is to make a revolution by non-violent and institutional means (1). He claims to govern differently from the recent past, to make changes in the production and distribution of wealth, promote a political culture with a strong leftist and nationalist ideology, administer the State in accordance with principles, rules and forms other than those established during the last decade and lead the economy by strengthening the presence of the state at all levels (2).  Such changes have been labeled by the ruling politic elite as "Socialism of the XXI Century". After 8 years of government, the anti-capitalism speech of President Chavez and the development of inclusive policies have made possible the adherence of million women and men, mainly from the poorest sector of the population (3). This assured him last December 6th 2006, his re-election as president, for the third consecutive time in 8 years for a period of six more years (4). His success guaranteed the permanence in the government of the politic coalition that supports him on his will to transform Venezuela in a socialist society (5).

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Indefinition of Socialism of the XXI Century
There is no doubt that those who now hold power in Venezuela, want to bring to life and proclaim that socialism. The big question from important sectors of the population is whether or not socialism will be different from the experiences of the so-called "real socialism" highly questioned after the collapse of the socialist bloc in the decade of the 80, disclosed violations of human rights and authoritarianism of the regimes that were established in the countries that made up the block (6).

The progress made so far with the purpose to build the so-called socialism of the twenty-first century has not reflected so far a wide satisfaction of human rights, or ensured more or better democracy. Even though after eight years of government some improvements in the satisfaction of certain social rights have been made, an integral analysis indicates that human rights violations are constant and specific rights have not recorded any progress, while in others the situation reports more violations. Although participation is promoted and the protagonism of historically excluded sectors is redeem through the government speech, this does not translate yet into expressions of democratic exercise that provides real protagosnism of the citizenship in order to make important decisions, neither the consolidation of mechanisms and institutions that encourage, canalize and ensure a democratic participation on the various issues of life of the country.  On the contrary, there is evidence that in the process of construction of socialism, authoritarian traits and regressive practices in human rights have emerged and consolidated, mainly in the field of civil and political rights. Discrimination based on political reasons (7), intolerance faced by dissenting groups (8), the criminalization of social protest (9),  increasing the list of prosecuted people for political reasons (10), the concentration of power in the National Executive and the weakening of the institutional balance, as well as the increasing militarization of society, are negative indications that translate into concerns for the immediate future of the country. This however, does not necessarily imply that it would lead us to a dictatorship system, as radical sectors of the opposition affirm. This will depend on the capacity of impact of the forces that are expecting the transformation of the country into a society of democracy, equity, justice and non-discrimination (11). Venezuela is experiencing a period of transition where they are beginning to leave behind some of the symbols and institutions of the past called "fourth republic" (12) although many of the evil practices of that period survive (13). There are new symbols, state practices and public policies that are oriented to produce changes in the economic, political and social fields with a socialist stamp (14). That transition process constitutes a historic opportunity to contribute to the achievement of significant changes that would translate into a more prosperous, equitable and democratic country.  The immediate future depends on the confrontation that takes place between the forces with democratic vocation (which are present among those who govern) and identify themselves as revolutionaries and socialists, those who oppose the government and the forces with totalitarian vocation, which are also present among the government and the opposition. We continue, therefore, facing a conflict of social and political forces that are committed to achieve more or less democracy; progress towards an authoritarian regime or a regime with democratic virtues;  or ensure more or less respect for human rights.

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Constitutional reform violates the constitution of 1999
Since his reelection on December 3rd 2006, President Hugo Chavez proposed changes in the legal framework of the country "to adapt to it to the new times". With that purpose he asked the National Assembly (NA), to grant him the power to legislate through the mechanism of enabling act (15). The NA quickly processed the application and granted him the power enact decree-law’s for a period of 18 months (16). Days later, President Chavez advanced much more and suggested the Constitution reform: "We are going towards a socialist Republic of Venezuela and that requires a profound reform of the Constitution" (17). He assumed the initiative of the constitutional reform and by decree he created a Presidential Council for the construction of the proposal of the reform (18). The mandate to work under strictly confidentiality was granted to this council. On August 15th, 2007, the Council, through the President, presented to the NA and the population the proposed reforms. The proposal contemplated changes of 33 articles of the Constitution, many of which violate fundamental principles and the structure of the Constitution. The content of the proposal involved a setback in human rights. That set back was accentuated by adding the NA 36 articles to the reform (19). The entire proposal created a legal framework favorable for the violation of human rights. In this regard, the coalition of organizations grouped in the Forum for Life expressed their views in the following terms:

"The Forum warns that human rights can not be subject of referendum process, because they are qualities inherent in the dignity of human beings. Human rights are inalienable, in-transferable and not negotiable. If the nucleus of human rights were to be modified, the principle of progressiveness would be violated which implies that States should increase gradually recognition of the human rights of its citizens. The progressiveness of human rights (as enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution) is a material limit to the constituent power, even when qualified as originating. This would be the same reason, by which, not even through the Constituent Assembly the preeminence of human rights could be modified or admit setbacks in this subject” (20). Other sectors, for other reasons also rejected the proposal: "The political pluralism is one of the fundamental values enshrined in the current Constitution (art.2). Implementation of a Socialist State is exclusive, and involves the cessation of pluralism and politic freedom and of conscience of citizens. It is a proven fact that in a democratic state can exist socialist parties and socialist governments. Examples abound in today’s world as Chile and Brazil. However, in a socialist state, as proposed in Venezuela, every political, social, economic and cultural activity fits within a single option, a single thought” (21). From the government coalition, questioning of the proposed reform were also expressed (22). The proposal, however, was defended by social and political leaders loyal to the government: "we continue to reaffirm the commitment of activism with the Bolivarian project lead by Commander Hugo Chavez Frias, because we are convinced to deepen the process of reform and revolution that has been a product of the protagonist participation of the Venezuelan people. ” (23)

Of the 69 items to be reformed, some of them however imply progress. Several aspects related to social rights are guaranteed and better fulfillment of human rights. "The Forum evaluates as positive the standards that reduce the labor working day to six hours; the recognition of the right to the multi-ethnic origin of Venezuelans, and the regulation of the financing of the State’s campaigns election. Nevertheless, these advances can not be a justification to approve norms that would restrict the enjoyment of human rights of the Venezuelan people” . (24)

However, a global and integral evaluation of the reform proposal leads us to affirm that is regressive and that implies a legal framework that encourages the violation of human rights.

By the closing date of this report, the NA delivered to the National Electoral Council (NEC) the proposed reform, so that it could proceed to convene the referendum on December 2nd 2007. It is in the hands of the population to accept or prevent a regressive reform.

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The inefficiency, corruption and bureaucracy as harms of the government
In his greetings speech to the people of Venezuela, on the night of December 3rd 2006 when the NEC announced that President Chavez had been reelected, he admitted that his government had been affected by three great evils: inefficiency, corruption and bureaucracy, which he promised to fight.
"We must redouble our achievements in the battle against bureaucratic counterrevolution and against corruption, war to the death against corruption, a new Bolivarian morality, a true morality, Christian, socialist. It is required with intensity a supreme battle for a new State capable of defeating the bureaucratization of the public sector” (25) . Inefficiencies in the execution of policies, plans and projects by state institutions, the lack of coordination of the various bodies and organs of the State and the improvisation in the way of assuming the Public affairs, this last one led by the president himself with his practice of governing through the "I has occurred to me", has generated significant discontent in sectors of the population (26).  Another factor that contributes to the inefficiency of government is the permanent rotation of government’s officials with important positions in the public administration. Once again the President made changes of his ministerial cabinet. He changed the Vice-President of the Republic and seven of his ministers. As usual, each minister that settles in the office switches around the whole executive component.

The "good policies" give "inadequate results" by the inefficiency of the government (27). The population feels that time passes and fundamental issues that affect people’s lives are not resolved: public services, for example. They feel frustrated by unaccomplished promises: the lack of housing construction or the poor quality of those awarded.

Clodosvaldo Russian, General Comptroller of the Republic stated in his report to the plenary of the National Assembly: .

The hopelessness increases when corruption cases show up"chronic deficiencies in the planning of public structures, we have estimated the possible damage in 23 thousand 826 million bolivars generated by the inefficiency in the technical specifications that in some cases have led to the collapse of the constructions” (28)

Every time there are more complaints involving the responsibility of high government officials in the state’s structure. The allegations in the project Iran-Venezuela (29), the allegations against corruption in PDVSA (30), and the countless allegations of corruption in the housing sector (31) exemplify this situation (32). Both the National Assembly and the National Executive started investigations. The Ministerial Anti-corruption Commission analyzes about 370 complaints related to corruption (33).  However there is little effort at the highest levels of government to punish and discourage such acts.

The Comptroller also expressed some frustration for the behavior of the State against corruption: “Is not possible that public officials that have been punished by the General Controller of the Republic and declared ineligible citizens are incorporated into other places in the government administration. This rude and anti-ethic behavior to avoid the action of the State must be eradicated in a definitive way" (34). Moreover, the General Attorney Isaias Rodriguez said: "...there is a problem of inefficiency of the state to fight corruption..." (35) Several of these allegations affect the satisfaction of social rights of the population since the resources assigned to improve the economy or the situation of the population are diverge for personal purposes (36).

The corruption is fostered by the obstacles to the effective exercise of social comptrollership. Despite the government’s speech for citizen participation in the control of public resources, measures and practices that prevent or hinder such work are taken. Every day is more difficult to access official sources. Ministries and other State institutions are reducing the possibilities for men and women of the country to obtain adequate and timely responses to their requests or information about public spending. The Web pages of most of the organs and institutions of the State continue giving scattered and fragmented information and do not report on essential issues related to public spending.  There is also little willingness of the State to train people to enable them to exercise their work of social comptrollership (37).

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Poverty lowers and the poor increase their intake capacity
We affirm at the beginning of this text that the complex situation in the country simultaneously generated adverse and favorable circumstances to the fulfillment of human rights. Just as the risks of an authoritarian way of governing grows and favorable conditions for the violation of human rights are created, mainly civil and politic rights, if the constitutional reform is approved, some positive issues would be develop in the field of social rights.  The government's policies and measures aimed at promoting sectors for years excluded and some overall impact policies on the population have resulted in the decline of poverty during this period. According to official figures, during the year 2006 the poverty rate drop under 1.9 points, going from 33.9% in 2005 to 32% in 2006. And until the first half of 2007 it had fallen 4.3 points in comparison to year 2006 when it fall to 28.8%. Extreme poverty also dropped, going from 10.6% in 2006 to 7.8% in the first half of 2007 (38). The evaluation of this result is highly positive, considering that poverty is the most constant and massive violation of human rights in the country. Its reduction translates into a progress in the field of social rights. One cause, and at the same time effect of the low poverty rates is that again the poorest sectors have the possibility to increase their intake capacity. The distribution of national income through multiple programs seems to be the cause of this increase.  By the closing date of this report the national government had assigned over 20 billion bolivars (39), through regular budget and extraordinary expenditure to social programs called missions and community councils. This means an increasing flow of money to the missions. In 2005 he assigned 6.9 billion bolivars and in 2006 it raised to 114% with an amount of 14.8 billion (40).

Paradoxically, the poorest now have more purchasing power but less possibility to buy products. A consequence of the increase in the consumption capacity of important sectors of the population, partly explains the scarcity of products (41). The national production and even imports fail to satisfy the demand. The inability to comply with the rise in the consumption has brought as a consequence an increase in imports. In 2006 imports grew 36.01% importing a total of 32.2 billion dollars (42).  The sustained growth of the Venezuelan economy in the last three years, helped reduce poverty.  In 2006 the economy grew 10.3%, in 2005 it had grown 9.3% and it is expected a growth close to 7% by 2007 (43). This growth relies mainly on oil incomes and the collecting of national taxes.

The high incomes enabled the government to recovered basic state enterprises. At the beginning of 2007, when President Hugo Chavez presented the 10 strategic lines of the National Plan Simon Bolivar (2007-2021) he expressed - referring to the Enabling Act: "We have to write a law mother of all revolutionaries’ laws. We already have the paper set. If in 2001 we made laws that hit the social-economic scheme, the new ones must hit with a greater power the current economic situation. For example the telecommunications sector and strategic areas such as water, electric energy must be nationalized. Everything that was privatized should be nationalized. We have to recover social property on the strategic means of production. Venezuela’s Telephones Anonymous Company, nationalize Mr. vice president” .

The substantial income earned by the Republic had another inappropriate destination: the purchase of weapons. In year 2006 the government invested 1 billion and 212 bolivars on expenses to equip the National Armed Forces. 441.5 millions were assigned for the maintenance of the two submarines Sábalo class of the Navy, 308.7 million bolivars for the acquisition of 10 helicopters, 126.8 million for 53,000 assault rifles AK-103 (45). According to the non-governmental organization “Control Ciudadano para la Seguridad y Defensa” in the last 24 months Venezuela has invested 3.7 billion dollars in the renewal of military equipment (46).

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Increasing criminalization of protest
The growing pace of the economy and the reduction of poverty levels could create the image of a satisfy population. However, the reality is different. The inefficiencies in the government that we have referred and that affects the daily lives of the people, especially of the poorest, have reached worrying levels and encouraged social discontent. The increasing public insecurity, the failure of housing plans, the hospital crisis, the failure of public services and the non-compliance of collective contracts were some of the reason  for social protest (47).

Additionally the non renewal of the concession to the local TV channel “Radio Caracas Television (RCTV)”. The perception that this event represented a violation of the right to freedom of expression led to demonstrations throughout the country.

The protagonism of the student's movement of public and private universities in the political and social scene increased (48). Demonstrating a broad ability to convoke people  with essentially peaceful and varied actions, guided by the motto of defending the right to freedom of expression creating an environment that reanimated opponent social and political factors of the government. The protest was quickly described by government spokesmen as subversive (49). It was also disqualified as a protest manipulated by political parties of the opposition (50).  The non-renewal of the license to RCTV also generated a broad mobilization of pro-government social and politic sectors that supported the government decision. Such a situation revived situations of social tension experienced in the recent past caused by the political polarization, which had declined  since the 2004 referendum.

One effect of the disqualification of student's protests by the government's speech was the intensification of the protest criminalization. More than 100 students were subjected to a criminal trial for participating in protests (51) and other social activists were also charged among other accusations for the crimes of public route's obstruction, violence incitement and damage to property. Our warning expressed in the second semi-annual report of 2005 about our concern on the gradual increase in the repression of peaceful protest and use of the organs of administration of justice to bring to criminal courts whoever was protesting, was confirmed (52).

In these context of civil and political rights violations, the government intensified  the disqualification of international systems for the protection of human rights and particularly against the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (53).

Beyond his speech, he adopted a policy characterized by the non-compliance of   agreements, temporary protective measures and decisions of the organs of the International System of Protection of Human Rights. He continued disqualifying  every organization that went to the international system of protection of human rights.

The overall economic, social and political context of Venezuela points out that in year 2008 it is likely that it will generate a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the country in terms of human rights, democracy and content of the so-called socialism of the XXI century. By the enabling Act the development of the constitutional framework will continue and it will be necessary to observe if the government deepens its regressive orientation on civil and political human rights. At the same time everything indicates that the economy will continue to grow and that there will be favorable conditions to lower the poverty rates.

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Footnotes:

1) On repeated occasions, the President has stated that the Venezuelan revolution is peaceful, but armed, meaning that he has the support of the National Armed Forces

2) On the occasion of his re-election President Chavez defined what would be the basic lines of action of the state to move towards socialism. For that purpose he figuratively used the term "five engines heading the socialism." Those five drivers are: Enabling Act (direct way towards socialism); Constitutional Reform (socialist state of law); Moral and Lights (education with socialist values), the New Geometry of power (the socialist reorganization of the nation’s geopolitical); Communal explosion power (protagonic, revolutionary and socialist democracy). http://www.minci.gob.ve/motores online. Consult of 26.09.07

3)The anti-neoliberal discourse against the "savage capitalism" has been a constant feature of President Chavez. The speech in favor of socialism emerged from its reaffirmation in power in the referendum of 2004.

4)On December 6th 1998 won with 56.20% of the votes; on July 30th 2000 won with 59% of votes and on December 3rd 2006 with 63% of the votes.

5) The government coalition is made up among others by the “Movimiento V Republica” (today dissolved in the United Socialist Party), the Communist party of Venezuela, the “Patria para Todos” party, the Tupamaro Movement.

6) In the government coalition opinions varied and they are sometimes confronted on the "real socialism". However, in general terms everyone agrees that the system has nationalist components and self elaboration, without denying references to those forms of socialism. In his speech on the occasion of his re-election on 03.12.06 Chavez said: "Anybody should be afraid of socialism, is essentially human love, humanity, solidarity. Socialism is our origin, indigenous, Christian and Bolivarian; that is the socialism, let us constructed. "

7) An example of the existing discrimination is found in the papers published by the Minister of Culture Farruco Sesto due to the presence of an actress in a student demonstration. "From now on we must guard against the selection of actors so we don’t provide free communication spaces to the small opposition soldiers of the mediatic war. Reference is made to the people. Since it is the people the owner of these spaces and these resources, it is the people, in their wisdom, who have the last word. “Another example has been the protests due to the nationalization of the oil drills operated by contractors. During the process, workers claimed that there were 700 of them not been reestablished in their jobs because they had singed  the petition to revoke President Chavez or because there were not registered as candidates for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela

8) Lead by the President, spokesmen of the government coalition immediately disqualifies anyone who attempts to publicly criticize the head of state or question his wrong practices. The most recent example is found in the disqualification of the Members of the “Podemos” party who dared to criticize the constitutional reform proposal presented to the National Executive, they were pointed out as traitors. Other qualifications often used to discredit the dissidents were words such as "oligarch "," fascist "," coup "," imperialist ".

9) Every time increases the number suppressed protests and the use of the organs of the administration of justice to prosecute social activists who mostly are subjected to periodic presentation regimes and exceptionally few are deprived of their liberty.

10) These people are not prosecuted for having committed crimes, almost all of them are not politicians but social activists, but they have been prosecuted for the participation in the enforceability of rights or for opposing through demonstrations, policies of the government. Historically in Venezuela these people are known as political prisoners if eventually they are deprived of their liberty.

11) From the field of human rights, it is possible to collaborate with that socialism of the twenty-first century in order to make it a truly democratic system, respectful of plurality and ensures the adequate institutional counterweights.

12) This is the term used by the government’s coalition to refer to anything that happened before President Chavez won his first election in 1998.

13) A case of reference is constituted by the police who after eight years of continuous government are still impregnated with the repressive spirit, and keep committing human rights violations, just as they behaved in the so-called "Fourth Republic".

14) Figures such as Ernesto 'che Guevara " are highlighted, political processes such as Cuba's are claimed, moving towards forms of collective private property and state property. Besides most of the forces of the government coalition were merged into the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

15) By Enabling Act the President may issue decrees with the rank, courage and strength of a Law

16) On January 8th 2007 President Chavez will ask the National Assembly (NA) to promulgate an Enabling Act. On February 1st 2007 the Act was published in Official Gazette No. 38,617.

17) Hernan Lugo: Chavez asked special powers to nationalize CANTV and strategic areas. El Nacional. 09.01.07, pag.A-2.

18) The Council was presided by President Chavez and was composed was among others by: General Attorney of the Republic Isaias Rodriguez; Germa Mundarain, the Ombudsman; Luisa Estela Morales, president of the Supreme Court, Cilia Flores, President of the NA as well as five more deputies. The Council was sworn on january 17th 2007.

19) On October 14th 2007 the Joint Commission of the AN appointed to work on the reform proposal presented the results of their work.

20) Organizations of the Forum for Life questioned among other issues the elimination of proceedings guarantees and the right to freedom of information in cases of State of Exceptions, the elimination of parliamentary and judicial control over the decree that declares the state of exception; the definition of the Socialist State because it violates the politic plurality; vulnerability of the right to elect and be elected, the presidential re-election for violating the principle of alternation. The Forum qualify the proposal as regressive and unconstitutional. (Online) www.derechos.org.ve

21) Statement of the Conference of Archbishops and Bishops of Venezuela. (Online) http://www.eluniversal.com. Consultation of 19.10.2007.

22) By the printing date of this report, the political party “Podemos” that had supported the re-election of President Chavez on december 3rd  2006, call citizenship to vote "NO" in the referendum approving the proposal for constitutional reform . That slogan was also expressed by the former minister of Defense, Raul Baduel.

23) Statements of farmer leader and member of the NA Braulio Alvarez

24) In addition, it is decalred unattachable the main household and the collective private property is promoted.

25) http://www.vive.gob.ve (line). Consultation of 04.12.06

26) It is of public knowledge that President Chavez in his Sunday program “Alo Presidente” improvises measures and policies with a current expression: "It occurred to me," "It occurred to me  last night", "I just occurred to me", "on my way here it occurred to me", imposing a management style of the State contrary to the whole idea of planning and risk valoracion .

27) The government has defined in many ways appropriate public policies that if implemented would translate into progress in the field of human rights, however, they often remain on paper, the budgets assigned are not executed and people with limited managerial capacity are placed in the direction of the organs and entities.

28) Paula Ramones: The State loses money for unfinished works. Ultimas Noticias. 01.08.07, pag.16.

29) See in this Report Chapter the Right to Land.

30) Father Jose de Jesus Palmar Morales supporter of the government, delivered evidence to the NA pointing out cases of ccorruption in “Petroleos de Venezuela Sociedad Anonima”, in relation to the purchase of Chinese drilling's, overprices of fuel and "finger" designation of PDVSA 's contractors including the Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez.

31) Statements of the Minister of People's Power for Housing and Habitat Ramon Carrizales to the press recognized the existence of an extensive corruption in the housing sector, reason by which he ordered  the  closing of Program 8 that was responsible for the allocation of houses. (Online) http://www.gui.com.ve/noticias.

32) The Controller Permanent Commission of the National Assembly by July 2007 processed more than 800 allegations of corruption. (Online) http://www.aporrealos.org/contraloria. Consultation of 09.07.07.

33) Among the cases that he Commission would be investigating are: the “Ciudad Lebrun” case that originated the dismissal of Luis Velasquez Alvaray Judge of the Supreme Court, the “Cementos Andino”case; the irregularities in the granting of credits in Fondafa.

34) Paula Ramones: State loses money for unfinished works. Ultimas Noticias. 01.08.07, PAG. 16.

35) Johelis Campos: Impunity is a problem of coordination. Ultimas Noticias. 20.08.07, PAG. 18

36) The corruption in the housing sector affects the right of many families to get housing, not just because they are awarded by irregular mechanisms possibly to people with fewer necessities than the ones that originally should be beneficiaries, but it directly affects the poor quality of the same, by using lower quality materials and evaluate them as good quality.

37) Mariela Hoyer: Social controllers are not trained to avoid corruption. El National  06.05.07.

38) The figures are based on a measurement per family income as an indicator of the economic capacity of each family to purchase the food basket and the basic basket.

39) Mayela Armas: More than 20 million assigned to missions and community councils. El Universal, 13.09.07, pag.1-17.

40) Victor Salmeron: Government doubled money for missions in 2006. El Universal, 15.02.07, pag. 1-14.

41) See in this report chapter the right to food.  

42) Blanca Vera: The economy grew 10.3% in 2006. El National 23.02.07, pag.A-20.

43) Panorama, 15.12.06, pag.23.

44) Hernan Lugo: Chavez asked for special powers to nationalize CANTV and oil areas. El National 09.01.07, pag. A-2.

45) El Universal, 24.01.07, pag. 1-6.

46) Celina Carquez: Questioning of new arms purchases. El National 13.07.07, pag.6.

47) See in this report chapters: Organizational answers of the society and the right to pacific protest.

48) For the first time since 1958 students from public and private universities coordinate their actions with common purposes and create a basic structure to unify their slogans and actions.

49) As in times of the so-called Fourth Republic, government spokesmen argued that the protest was part of a conspiratorial plan and identify it with those who gave the Coup d'Etat on 11.04.02.

50) In the past, student protests were described as protests promoted by armed insurgent groups which intention was to destabilize the democratic order.

51) See in this Report Chapter the right to pacific protests

52) Idem

53) During management of the lawyer Maria Auxiliadora Monagas significant progress were achieved. She facilitated the dialogue between the Commission and the government, as well as with human rights' organizations. The new agent representing the State at the International System of Protection of Human Rights, the  lawyer German Saltron gave nonsense of such developments. He closed the channels of dialogue with human rights organizations and paralyzed all efforts that have been made regarding contentious cases in the Commission and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

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