Inter-American Court reviews Venezuelan state responsibility for 2002 deaths

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) held a public hearing in Costa Rica regarding the “Trujillo et al. v. Venezuela” case, examining the Venezuelan state's responsibility for human rights violations during protests on April 11, 2002, in Caracas.

The protests were organized by labor unions and other sectors in response to the dismissal of hundreds of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) workers. Representatives from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the NGO Foro Penal argued that the state failed to prevent or punish the deaths and injuries that occurred. The IACHR noted that members of the Bolivarian National Guard used lethal weapons against demonstrators and alleged coordination between state authorities and groups known as “Bolivarian circles.”

Foro Penal representatives stated that the events of 2002 marked the beginning of a strategy of political repression to maintain power. They cited testimonies suggesting that the response to the march was a planned effort to counter protesters attempting to reach the Miraflores presidential palace. The Venezuelan state did not attend the hearing despite receiving an invitation to present its arguments.