AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Deaths due to tuberculosis, lack of food: the Church denounces the situation in prisons

Monday, 17 October 2016 human rights   politics   poverty   healthcare  

Guarico (Agenzia Fides) - The statement from the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops' Conference of Venezuela was released yesterday, in some parishes of the capital of Venezuela with regards to the prison situation in the country. The text denounces the situation of the General Penitentiary of Venezuela (PGV) in San Juan de Los Morros, Guárico state, where the news of the deaths of inmates due to tuberculosis and lack of health care, in addition to food shortages of prisoners was confirmed.
"We support the appeal that families, especially wives, children and mothers of prisoners, are launching for their relatives arrested and detained: they are human beings, Venezuelan citizens who have a right to be heard and respected", said the statement. "Lack of real information, deaths of prisoners due to tuberculosis, prohibition of visits, lack of food, ill-treatment" are some elements of the complaint sent to Fides.
The Justice and Peace Commission calls on the Authorities of the state and the Ministry of People's Power for the Prison Service to "solve the problems of the penitentiary center and fully guarantee the human rights of detainees and their families, in the terms established by international law for these fundamental rights".
The situation was made known through social networks: detainees themselves posted videos pleading not to leave them to die like this, showing the plight of many sick inmates. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 17/10/2016)


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