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2026-10-20 23:08 UTC → 2026-10-21 04:48 UTC ·
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Venezuela Hate Law Against Hatred reform process faces rejection
Since its implementation in 2017, The legislative reform process for Venezuela’s ‘Constitutional Law Against Hate for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance’ has faced encountered significant criticism opposition from human rights organizations and journalists. The NGO Foro Penal reports that at least 927 people have been charged with incitement to hatred under the statute. Additionally, the NGO Cecodap noted that 118 minors were charged under the law between 2024 and 2025. Cecodap’s general coordinator, Carlos Trapani, stated that these legal proceedings primarily emerged following the political crisis and repression after civil society. While the July 28, 2024, presidential elections. Investigations often involved reviewing mobile phones, social media posts, and WhatsApp status updates. Cecodap alleges these processes were accompanied by violations of judicial guarantees for minors, including arbitrary detentions, failure National Assembly’s proposed changes aim to notify families, and restrictions on private legal defense. In response replace prison sentences of 10 to criticisms that 20 years with heavy administrative fines, critics argue the law serves as a tool for political persecution, acting President Delcy Rodríguez requested reform is merely a partial reform, acknowledging the law has been ‘mal aplicada’ (badly applied) and subject to ‘uso abusivo’ (abusive use). ‘mutation of punishment.’ The Venezuelan National Assembly installed a special 11-member commission, chaired by Deputy Pedro Infante, to lead a reform process aimed proposed fines, calculated in bolívares at moderating sanctions rates between 500 and decriminalizing certain behaviors. However, 10,000 times the push for total abolition has intensified. Deputy Tomás Guanipa, representing exchange rate of the Libertad faction and Central Bank of Venezuela’s highest-valued currency, have been condemned by the Unión y Cambio movement, formally submitted National Association of Journalists (CNP), Acceso a bill to la Justicia, and Foro Penal. These organizations warn that the National Assembly new measures could lead to repeal the law entirely. Guanipa characterized the legislation ‘economic asphyxiation’ and self-censorship, as a tool for political persecution used to arrest thousands, cause loss the Ministry of life, Interior, Justice, and force exiles. He called for Peace would retain the repeal authority to foster national reconciliation determine fine amounts based on factors like intent and demanded reach. Human rights groups and organizations such as Espacio Público maintain that judges who used the law continues to criminalize dissent be held accountable provide mechanisms for arbitrary judicial actions. Recent legislative developments criminalizing political opposition, activists, and journalists. This follows previous reports from Foro Penal noting that at least 927 people have met significant opposition. been charged under the statute since its 2017 implementation.