Question: What is our response to Venezuela’s rejecting UNHRC recommendations on judicial independence, freedom of the press, and protection of nongovernmental organizations?

Answer: The United States carefully drafts recommendations for every country as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. We take the UPR process very seriously and therefore work hard to develop meaningful recommendations to improve the human rights situation in the countries under review.

Many countries raised serious and legitimate concerns about the state of human rights in Venezuela at its UPR session last Friday. We urge the Government of Venezuela to reconsider all of the recommendations, including those calling for a fully independent judiciary, an end to official anti-Semitic commentary, adoption of draft legislation on trafficking in persons, increased protection of asylum seekers, and visits by various UN special rapporteurs.