Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías

Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Presidencia de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Final avenida Urdaneta,

Esq. de Bolero, Palacio de Miraflores,

Caracas – Venezuela

Dear Mr. President,

I commend your government on the steps taken by Venezuela by passing the 2007 Organic law on the right of women to a life free of violence. However, I wish to express my concern for the poor and slow implementation of the 2007 law two years after its adoption and entry into force. I want to recall the responsibility of the State to ensure the implementation of the 2007 law, either directly or by holding the relevant authorities accountable.

I want to express my particular concern for the severe shortage of shelters to protect women escaping domestic violence and the lack of training programmes for police officials in charge of receiving claims and investigating cases of domestic violence.

Shelters and trained police officials play an essential role in the protection of women and the investigation of cases of domestic violence, with a view to the eradication of such social plague.

Let me remind you that the creation of shelters and the provision of police training are envisaged in the 2007 law, whose transitory period expired in 2008 and that the duty to protect women from domestic violence is part of international obligations undertaken by Venezuela.

I call on the authorities to implement thoroughly and effectively the 2007 law, including by creating shelters for women and providing training programmes for police officials.

Finally, let me emphasize the need to coordinate each activity with the National Institute of Women’s Affairs (INAMUJER) and request that the authorities write to Amnesty International to provide answers to my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

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