13 February 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil is a human rights lawyer and advocacy coordinator for the organisation\u00a0Iniciativa por una Justicia Igualitaria<\/em>. Through his work, he has coordinated legal support for victims of persecution and arbitrary detention in Venezuela and has denounced acts of corruption. He has also worked as a deputy investigator in cases related to the International Criminal Court\u2019s investigation into Venezuela.<\/p>\n Because of his professional practice, Omar Mendoza has been subjected to\u00a0threats, harassment and attempts to criminalise him and his family.<\/strong>\u00a0His situation has worsened since he took up the defence of the lawyer Jecson Ricardo Cariel[1], who has been arbitrarily detained since August 2022.<\/p>\n Out of concern for the lack of due process in legal proceedings against criminalised human rights defenders, Omar Mendoza decided to flee the country in order to protect his life and freedom. The lawyer claims to have been the victim of extraterritorial persecution outside Venezuela.<\/p>\n Recently, in the context of the 28 July 2024 elections in Venezuela, several commissions from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) visited his home in Venezuela. Omar Mendoza denounces the cancellation of his passport, which has also affected other lawyers and human rights defenders in reprisal for their work.<\/p>\n The Observatory is extremely concerned\u00a0<\/strong>by these acts of intimidation, which jeopardise the free and independent practice of law and effective access to justice for victims.<\/p>\n The Observatory calls on the Venezuelan authorities\u00a0<\/strong>to cease all attacks on lawyer\u00a0Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil\u00a0<\/strong>and other human rights lawyers in Venezuela.<\/p>\n The Observatory is also calling\u00a0<\/strong>for the release of lawyer Jecson Ricardo Cariel, who has been arbitrarily detained since August 2022.<\/p>\n The Observatory recalls that,\u00a0<\/strong>in compliance with the\u00a0United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular principles 16, 17 and 18:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGovernments shall ensure that lawyers (a)\u00a0are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference<\/strong>; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Principle 16)<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWhere the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be\u00a0adequately safeguarded by the authorities<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Principle 17)<\/u><\/p>\n