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Venezuela: Frequently asked questions about our work on detention

Un vehículo del CICR avanza por una carretera rodeada de montañas
ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in accordance with our international mandate, visits people deprived of their liberty in various places of detention around the world, including in Venezuela. We are permitted to do so by the relevant authorities with a view to: assessing the living conditions in places of detention in line with international standards; and ensuring the fundamental rights of people deprived of their liberty are respected in accordance with international standards and national rules, that people deprived of their liberty are treated with dignity and humanity, that they have contact with their families and that their physical and moral integrity is respected.

ICRC visits do not imply that we take any specific public position on the work of the prison authorities, compliance with international standards, or the living conditions in detention centres. Our observations are shared bilaterally and confidentially with the relevant authorities, with the aim of improving the treatment and living conditions of people deprived of their liberty.

  • The ICRC's aims are purely humanitarian. All our visits to detention centres around the world are governed by the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, in line with the mission of the Red Cross Movement. These visits aim to ensure that people deprived of their liberty are treated with dignity and humanity, in accordance with international standards and national rules.

  • To ensure our visits are effective, the ICRC's work around the world is based on specific procedures. They include:

    • Permission to access all people deprived of their liberty, regardless of their situation or stage of detention.
    • Access to all places used by and for people deprived of their liberty, including communal areas and accommodation.
    • Private interviews with people deprived of their liberty selected by the ICRC.
    • On-going follow-up via follow-up visits.
    • Access to information on the identity, status and location of people deprived of their liberty, with permission to record this information strictly for the purpose of humanitarian and confidential follow-up.

    We share our observations with the relevant authorities bilaterally and confidentially, to enable us to work with them to improve the treatment and living conditions of people deprived of their liberty.

  • Confidential dialogue is a key component of the ICRC's work. This approach allows us to build trust with people deprived of their liberty, authorities and other relevant stakeholders. Speaking in private makes it easier for us to gain access to people deprived of their liberty, it helps us understand their needs and concerns, and allows us to work with the relevant authorities to make sustainable changes to the treatment and living conditions of people deprived of their liberty.

  • If a member of your family has been detained and you do not know their whereabouts, you can contact:

    • National line for Restoring Family Links:+58 412 2665945
    • Email: familiares.vzla@icrc.org
    • The ICRC office closest to your home (Puerto Ordaz, San Cristóbal or Caracas)

    Please keep in mind that these processes can take time, as they depend on the access granted by the authorities. All ICRC services are free of charge.

  • The health care provided in places of detention must be at least equivalent to that offered in the wider community or recommended by national health authorities for public health facilities, according to international standards. To provide preventive and curative care to people deprived of their liberty, authorities need: infrastructure, equipment and resources; a well-trained and well-organized workforce; and effective mechanisms to ensure that all people deprived of their liberty can access health services whenever they need them. To this end, ICRC doctors and nurses provide specialized advice to detaining authorities, while encouraging national ministries of health to do more in relation to places of detention. 

    Likewise, they support health workers working in prison facilities, helping to improve their knowledge of and respect for ethical principles, such as medical confidentiality, needs-based and patient-oriented care, and discrimination-free and barrier-free access to health services.  

  • The ICRC does not disclose information about the detention centres we visit or the people we meet. Our work is based on confidentiality to ensure we can continue to access people deprived of their liberty. 

  • The ICRC does not have the authority to intervene in judicial processes nor to request the release of a person deprived of their liberty. Our work focuses on monitoring the living conditions in places of detention, promoting that people deprived of their liberty are treated with dignity and humanity, and helping them to communicate with their families when the need arises, including in emergency situations.