República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Position Paper

República Bolivariana de VenezuelaPosition Paper for the 2016 ESMOAS Summit of the Americas

I. GENERAL STATEMENTThe Delegation of Venezuela is honored to be a part of this years General Assembly and

formally welcomes all other Delegations present. The Delegation of Venezuela continues to uphold its standard of governing by maintaining itself to the historic mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) of: "an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence."i Ultimately the goal of this Delegations is to come to mutual agreements with fellow members of the OAS and push for the solidarity and fortification of the long lasting relationships existing within the existing nations. Furthermore, the Delegation of Venezuela is honored to be part of the modernization and improvement process of other nations.

As previously stated, the Delegation of Venezuela is glad to be working hand-on-hand with the present Delegations. This Delegations aims to meet reach diplomatic terms on each resolution presented while still keeping its ideals and sovereignty intact and preserved. The Head of State, Nicolas Maduro, has prioritized the security and civil right of its citizens and most importantly of the people under its sovereignty. This delegation recognizes the existing problem of accessibility of health care. The president aims to combat the issue a step at a time. We recognize the necessity of such programs and recognize them as an issue worthy of relevance. To better aid and treat the existing health problems existing in Venezuela. Venezuela aims to better the lives of not only its citizens but as-well of those of other nations to ultimately promote a healthier and stronger society within the western hemisphere

In addition, Venezuela aims to further facilitate social equality and eliminate as preexisting prejudice against women within the western hemisphere by empowering women inside and outside the working force. Venezuela has put into action a campaign against sexual inequality. “For us, the Venezuelan people, Venezuela men and women, this has to be a battle that we fight every single day, in all spaces, because what we are trying to construct in Venezuela at the end of the day is a society based on justice… Where there is no room for any kind of violence or exclusion, much less sexist violence and exclusion,” ii said Vice President Hector Rodriguez.

The delegation aims to additionally take a combat against the low level of undereducated young adults and to provide them with more work availability to reduce the level of juvenile delinquency. The previous statement has proven to be a challenge to many countries around the world and it was time very nation came together to address the problem in a hemispheric level. The delegation is ready to answer all questions pertaining to the issue. Finally, this delegation takes the issues of racism and discrimination very seriously and ultimately challenges the western hemisphere to joint them in the process of fighting this issues. More than any other time in the history of the hemisphere has the levels of such issue been in high numbers. Because of all these issues and the commitment, the OAS has to the hemisphere, Venezuela aims to aid all countries who along with us seek social and racial justice. In the spirit of diplomacy, we encourage everyone to partake in a healthy and productive summit.

República Bolivariana de VenezuelaPosition Paper, Page Two

II. PARTICULAR STATEMENTS

A. Committee: General Committee (GC)

Topic One: Reducing the Rate of Violence against WomenThe Bolivarian Republic Venezuela recognizes the existing problem of violence against

women and is glad to announce to Organization of American States that it too will rise to the existing problem of gender discrimination. As times call for a general understanding of liberal position in regards to the topic, the Maduro Administration is honored to know it will partake in this hemispheric effort to reduce the issue now present.

The Maduro Administration is strongly supporting existing movement to tackle on gender inequalities in Venezuela and across the western hemisphere. “Words Kill: If you love, then you don’t abuse,” iii is the initiative presented by the Venezuelan Ministry for Women and Gender Equality that aims to create conscious on the abuses that come with sexism and to incorporate “educational and cultural activities” for the public. The Delegation of Venezuela wishes to announce the success of several national policy such as BANMUJERiv, which provides various programs for women to eliminate the existing problem of violence against women. In addition, the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled in 2015 the “The Constitutional Division of the Supreme Court has ruled that the concept of flagrancy applies, under article 44, paragraph 1, of the Constitution, to crimes of violence against women.”v Which aids in the persecution of violence. The Delegation of Venezuela wishes to remind all fellow member on the importance of addressing the issue at hand, and strongly wishes for support to eradicate the existing problem for a better way of living not only its citizens, but for the western hemisphere.

The Maduro Administration wishes to accomplish this by creating a social conscious on the issue and founding both Government and Non-Government Organizations to meet this goal. The Delegation of Venezuela would like to point out that the 2012 report by the organization Small Arms Survey more than half of the 25 countries with very high femicide rates are in the LAC region.vi The Maduro Administration finds this numbers acceptable to the western hemisphere. The reports of violence in the Americans are higher than in any other region. The Maduro administration calls for the unification of member states to fight the existing problem of violence against women and is open to any suggestion. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela recognizes the sovereignty of all member states but upholds the security for women rights above all and encourages all OAS members to adopt gender equal regulations for the uplifting of a greater hemisphere.

Topic Two: Achieving Universal Access to Basic Health Services The Maduro Administration identifies Universal Healthcare as a system which provides

health and financial protection to its citizensvii and recognizes the existing problem in the Americas on Health reforms. In the efforts of achieving and grater health care system in the Americas, the Delegation of Venezuela commends the Organization of American States in the creation of the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Patient Experience of Care Survey (CAHPS) which surveys the experience of patients in surgery health centersviii. The Republic of Venezuela recognizes that achieving universal topic of healthcare is an important one for the present

members and recognizes the necessity of a functioning system that provides one. For a stronger, better, and healthier Latin America, the delegation of Venezuela encourages all member to collaborate side by side in the process of achieving such goal.

The Maduro Administration has find it beneficial to continue the Barrio Adentro initiative created by President Hugo Chaves in 2003 to provide healthcare and dental care to lower class sectors of Venezuela. ix The Maduro Administration aims in spreading this welfare program across South America. The Barrio Adentro initiative is being used to train Venezuelan doctors. The delegation of Venezuela moves to propose the continuation of such foundation’s initial partnership with Cuba to revitalize the Barrio Adentro Foundation. The delegation of Venezuela beliefs such foundation could prove to be the key in achieving universal healthcare and encourages other members of the OAS to join as well to further solidify its purposed goal. As stated by the International Labor Organization, more than 140 million people don’t have access to health services in Latin America.x The Delegation of Venezuela would like to remind the OAS members that the fight for more affordable health services in Latin America is not an easy one but it is a necessary one to win in order to establish a healthier and overall stronger hemisphere.

With this, the Maduro Administration urges all fellow members of the OAS to collaborate and invest in the Barrio Adentro Foundation to further reach and meet the basic necessities for health services of not only the Delegation of Venezuela but that of every other Delegation. The Maduro Administration call as well for further regulation on healthcare policies and calls for further support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Delegation of Venezuela moves to further educate it citizens on the topic of healthcare services and to better health standards. The Maduro Administration will target the youth and elderly in its campaign to revitalize the western hemisphere and to provide better safer environments for its people. In addition, the Delegation is open for support and any suggestions that any other member of the OAS may have.

B. Committee: Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI)

Topic One: Reducing the Number of Young People Not Studying or WorkingThe Maduro Administration understands the role the Organization of American States

(OAS) takes in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and around our hemisphere; and feels extremely grateful for the cooperation given to member nations. Research in our sovereign country before have shown that a substantial amount of our youth are not attending a College or University. However, President Maduro has decreased such numbers by motivating the youth, especially those in poverty, to grow and succeed from a younger age through education and entering the workforce. It is heartbreaking to inform that the youth across our hemisphere have been struggling in finding sustainable jobs and this is something our youth prefer over attending a College or University. However, the Maduro Administration and Superactec, a Venezuelan non-profit organization, has been preparing students to enter the workforce from the young age of 18 or 19 years oldxi and to encourage the relation to complete an education and be guaranteed a job. This eradicates the idea of our youth wanting a job first then an education. With these new programs and organizations formed by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the future of the youth looks bright. Venezuela has implemented the 60% of public Universities for all those who cannot afford a private education.xii Venezuela’s public Universities are accessible to anyone who desires to grow and succeed. These initiatives have demonstrated positive

retrospective. The Maduro Administration is tiredly working along with its people to have a substantial living like everybody else in the hemisphere, this step is the right to direction to Venezuela’s future.

The Delegation of Venezuela is pleased to announce that Venezuela is content with the results of the improvements done by the Administration for education. The Maduro Administration recognizes that although youth have had problems choosing between studying and working, from now on they will be able to work and have the accessibility to be part of a University. Once again, Superatec, one of the Venezuelan organization aiding this, is providing alternatives and solutions that in one year have helped more than 5,000 young people.xiii The Delegation of Venezuela is also very glad to inform that many organizations have been formed to help young Venezuelans succeed in their career and finding supportive jobs.

Therefore, the Delegation of Venezuela believes that one of the initiatives is offering young people job training at an early age. It also moves to adopt and encourage organizations to develop initiatives for education and job placement just as the International Youth Foundation has helped a majority of Venezuelans graduates to have a secured job.xiv The Delegation also calls for the emphasis on early education and work ethic to go hand in hand for a prosperous future. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela commends the efforts made by the OAS to help lessen the number of young people not studying or working as it recognizes State sovereignty to do so. In combination of addressing both issues at hand and proposing solutions that are relatively tied, with these initiatives in Venezuela as an example for the hemisphere in youth development, Venezuela invites other Delegations to undertake these advancements for the youth of their countries and our entire hemisphere.

C. Committee: Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS)

Topic One: Hemispheric Standards for Gun Safety & RegulationThe Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is grateful to be a part of such a prestigious and

dedicated organization. The Maduro Administration commends the efforts and acknowledges the presence of the Organization of American States (OAS). In times of worldwide despair, it is only necessary for the OAS to meet, discuss and offer solutions to emerging hemispheric problems. Because of this, the Maduro Administration knows that it does not stand alone in the fight for improving gun safety and regulation at the hemispheric level.

The Maduro Administration is strongly in support of the established Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and other Related Materials (CIFTA)xv and encourages the further development of said adopted document. The Delegation of Venezuela wishes to state its compliance to the convention by citing its national Act on the Disarmament and Control of Arms and Ammunition of 2013 that allows Venezuela to, “combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture and trade of firearms and ammunition; as well as to create plans to implement, coordinate and supervise the disarmament of natural and legal persons in the attempt to guarantee and protect citizens and institutions of the State, their properties, goods and values.”xvi The Delegation of Venezuela wishes to remind fellow Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS) Delegates of its mission in “ensuring the security of the peoples of the Americas”xvii and to consider such gun threats and trafficking as harming to the security of the people. More than ever and witnessing the dangers of this world, the Maduro Administration recognizes the immediate need to impose better hemispheric standards for gun safety and regulation.

The Delegation of Venezuela with this moves to propose better hemispheric standards of regulation by continuing and updating CIFTA and having member states adopt measures in regulating small arms acquisition. The Maduro Administration would like to point out that according to an independent analysis made using the 2013 United Nations Global Study on Homicide by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the Americas has superseded Africa as the world’s most violent region.xviii This report cites that organized crime is a major problem in Latin America more than any other region. As well, the report cites police corruption and prisons as a source to the problem of violence in the hemisphere; with more countries experiencing problems in these areas than others. This is where the Maduro Administration calls for the cooperation of members States in combating such corrupted actions and imposing harsher regulation on the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of arms to ensure the safety of the people and drastically reduce the number of such weapons coming in borders illegally. The Maduro Administration recognizes the low cooperation in States of the previous proposal and thus moves to also encourage the safety of its people through domestic arms regulation. This should include for member states to adopt measures to keep track of individuals wishing to possess a weapon. Some regulations should include owning a limit of one firearm with proper license that includes several steps and requirements in obtaining such license.

The Maduro Administration is open to any suggestion and highly encourages the support of such regulation to be made at hemispheric levels when it comes to combating illegal transport of weapons within member State borders, keeping check on national manufactures, monitoring transport of weapons from said manufacturers, combating in State corruption of officials violating weapon trafficking laws, and imposing domestic arm regulations to its citizenry if all fails. The Maduro Administration recognizes the sovereignty of all member State but imposes above all the security of the people of the OAS to be taken into consideration and move to adopt the gun regulations proposed of both manufacturing and domestic positions.

D. Committee: Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy (SSD)

Topic One: Addressing Racial Discrimination and ViolenceThe Maduro administration acknowledges the exertions of the fellow Organization of

American States (OAS) member states to address the issues surrounding racial discrimination and the unfortunate violence that accompanies it. Noting, statistics indicate that over half of the population of Venezuela is of mixed race, prompting that under the reign of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela fully and devotedly criminalize discrimination in the 1999 constitution.xix These modifications ensured the multiethnic and multicultural society represented in Venezuela. The delegation of Venezuela prides itself on a diverse society and wishes for all member states to embrace the same way of life. The Delegation of Venezuela feels this issue should not be limited by political indifferences, rather, to be recognized as a moral and ethical issue, prompting states to put their differences aside in an effort to enhance the life of their citizens.

Accordingly, in article 31 of the OAS Charter, it strictly states “Inter-American cooperation for integral development is the common and joint responsibility of the member states, within the framework of the democratic principles and the institutions of the Inter-American system. It should include the economic, social, educational, cultural, scientific, and technological fields, support the achievement of national objectives of the member states, and respect the priorities established by each country in its development plans, without political ties or conditions”xx further affirming the sentiments of Venezuela and prompting fellow OAS

members to reignite these ideals. The Maduro administration is well aware that some current member states are facing extreme tragedies and high rates of racial violence within their communities.xxi Western-hemispheric standards must be understood and accepted amongst all member states in order to be effective. Understanding that each country maintains their own legal justices for those who racially discriminate and commit violence, all member states must ensure and enforce ideals that are universally understood. In efforts to hinder the racial discrimination and violent atrocities that occur, Venezuela would urge OAS member states to create punishments for any form of racial discrimination that may be viewed as threatening, hate speech, and/or dangerous without threating the freedoms provided by each sovereign state to their citizens. Venezuela would also prompt OAS member states to educate their youth, in particular, a variety of races and contributions they have made in strengthening the western hemisphere. The Delegation of Venezuela also deems it necessary that OAS members effectively provide jail time to those who commit violent acts and are provided education similar to the youth that is within each sovereign countries budget. The Maduro administration is also aware of the racial discrimination and violence that has seeped into the federal system of many member states, suggesting an alternative technique, aimed at reequipping federal agents in proper etiquette and response, suited for their profession. The delegation of Venezuela would also encourage guidelines and consequences for those who are under investigation, specifically for racial discrimination and/or violence, who work within the realm of government. The delegation of Venezuela echoes and reemphasizes the ideas and call to action presented by the OAS member states of the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy and declares that accommodations aiming at these injustices based on race would call for a more prosperous western hemisphere.

Topic Two: Promoting Civil Registration & the Right to IdentityThe Maduro Administration applauds the efforts of the OAS to promote civil registration

and the right to identity in the western hemisphere through the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy (SSD). Since OAS has ratified the first Charter in 1948 in Bogota, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has long supported the ideology of sovereignty. In Article 3; Section E of the Charter it states, “[e]very State has the right to choose, without external interference, its political, economic, and social system and to organize itself in the way best suited to it, and has the duty to abstain from intervening in the affairs of another State. Subject to the foregoing, the American States shall cooperate fully among themselves, independently of the nature of their political, economic, and social systems.”xxii The Republic of Venezuela also reaffirms the ideology of sovereignty in its constitution naming it a “unrenounceable right.”xxiii The Republic of Venezuela admires how the Charter defends the fundamental of rights of states by reserving the fundamental rights of states to not be impaired.xxiv Moreover, the Republic of Venezuela supports the proclamation in Article 3; Section l which states, “[t]he American States proclaim the fundamental rights of the individual without distinction as to race, nationality, creed, or sex.”xxv The Delegation of Venezuela seeks to always uphold the fundamental rights of the individual.

The right to identity is given through civil registration. The right of identity shall not be altered, or can be deemed as necessary by the sovereign states. Civil registration and the right to identity are major issues in today’s society. These issues must be carefully viewed and assessed to construct a solution. In the 37th session of OAS, Resolution 2286 was reviewed by the General Assembly. Its purpose was to improve civil registration which would then improve the

right to identity. Resolution 2286 resolve 4A states, “[e]nsure that the birth registry, which is used to ensure the right of civil identity, with emphasis on persons in poverty and at risk, is universal, accessible, and, if possible, cost-free.”xxvi The Delegation of Venezuela is advancing and improving its efforts in civil registration. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has created a report on Venezuela’s birth registration and has reported 81% of its people being registered at birth.xxvii

All the member states of the OAS should adopt a policy on civil registration to make those of low income free of charge. It is important to give a nation’s citizen the right to identity. Through the right of identity, SSD will achieve its goal to strengthen democracy by “promot[ing] and consolidat[ing] representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention,” which is stated in the OAS Charter Article 2; Section A.xxviii

END NOTES

i https://www.cidh.oas.org/Basicos/English/Basic22.Charter%20OAS.htmii http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuela-Launches-Campaign-to-Tackle-Violence-Against-Women--20141121-0039.htmliii http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuela-Launches-Campaign-to-Tackle-Violence-Against-Women--20141121-0039.htmliv http://www.banmujer.gob.ve/v http://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/2015/flagrancy-on-violence-against-women-crimes-ruling-from-supreme-courtvi http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2013/4/femicide-in-latin-americavii http://www.who.int/health_financing/universal_coverage_definition/en/viii http://www.pressganey.com/resources/cahps-programs/oas-cahpsix http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/08/22/Venezuelan-president-to-expand-welfare-health-program-amid-economic-crisis/8431471872437/x http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_007961/lang--en/index.htmxi http://www.focal.ca/publications/focalpoint/265-june-2010-daniel-mogollon-munoz-enxii Ibidxiii http://superatec.org.ve/resultados/xiv http://www.iyfnet.org/country/venezuelaxv http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/a-63.htmlxvi http://www.unlirec.org/documents/mercosur/venezuela/leydesarmecontrolarmasmuniciones_2013.pdfxvii http://www.oas.org/en/topics/multidimensional_security.aspxviii http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/latin-america-worlds-most-violent-region-unxix http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/Tackling-Racism-In-Venezuela-to-Build-a-Society-of-Equals--20150319-0032.htmlxx http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-41_charter_OAS.asp#Chapter_IVxxi http://www.voanews.com/a/are-race-and-class-at-the-root-of-venezuelas-political-crisis/1886458.htmlxxii http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-41_charter_OAS.aspxxiii http://www.venezuelaemb.or.kr/english/ConstitutionoftheBolivarianingles.pdfxxiv http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-41_charter_OAS.aspxxv Ibidxxvi http://www.oas.org/sap/docs/puica/2286_UniversalCivilRegistry_Right_Identity_e.pdfxxvii http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/venezuela_statistics.htmlxxviii http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-41_charter_OAS.asp