UPDATE - Venezuela slams 'biased' UN rights report

ADD REMARKS FROM VENEZUELAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEAD

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuela on Friday blasted a "biased" UN Human Rights report on Venezuela, which urged the country to take measure to end "grave" rights violations.

Deputy Foreign Minister William Castillo said the report, issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, "does not reflect the reality" in Venezuela.

"We demand that its contents be corrected, and we urge you to act in a balanced and respectful way," Castillo told UN Human Rights Council.

He added that the South American country would heed "constructive'' recommendations.

His remarks came a day after in the report the UN rights chief called on Venezuela to take "immediate measures" to halt and remedy the "grave" violations of economic, social, civil, political and cultural rights documented in the country.

If the situation in the South American country does not improve, the "unprecedented" outflow of Venezuelan migrants and refugees will continue, and "the living conditions of those who remain will worsen," said Thursday's report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights office.

The report is based on 558 interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations and the deteriorating economic situation, in Venezuela and eight other countries, as well as other sources. It covers the period from January 2018 to May 2019.

The report underlined that Venezuela's state institutions have been militarized over the past decade, and security forces have allegedly been responsible for arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment and torture of people.

The majority of victims have not had effective access to justice and remedies, the State is "violating its obligations" to ensure the rights to food and health and the health situation in the country is dire, according to the report.

“I sincerely hope the authorities will take a close look at all the information included in this report and will follow its recommendations," said Bachelet.

She said all Venezuelans deserve "a better life" with access to "adequate basic human needs".

"I call on all those with the power and influence -- within Venezuela and elsewhere -- to work together, and to make the necessary compromises to resolve this all-consuming crisis. My Office stands ready to continue doing its part," Bachelet said.

Bachelet paid a 3-day visit to Venezuela in June to meet a wide range of actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, other senior government officials, as well as the opposition leader and the President of the National Assembly Juan Guaido.

A team of two UN human rights officers stayed in the country after her visit, with an agreed mandate to provide technical assistance and advice, and to monitor the human rights situation.

She also welcomed the release of 62 detainees in June, with a further 22 set free Thursday, adding that acceptance of the rights officers in the country signifies "the beginning of positive engagement on the country’s many human rights issues".

Venezuela's economy has been in precipitous decline following a global downturn in the price of crude oil, the country's main export. A political unrest has been ongoing between Venezuela’s elected Maduro and opposition leader Guaido since Jan. 10.

Nearly 5,000 people leave Venezuela every day because of "instability and uncertainty" amid a crisis over the presidency and economy, and 3 million Venezuelans have already left the country since 2015, according to UN Refugee Agency reports.