98
situation and to ensure the exercise of the human rights of persons deprived of
freedom.” 306
273.
In this sense, one of the questions in the questionnaire published for the
purposes of this report concerned levels of prison violence; those States that responded to
this question provided the following information:
Country
Argentina (Federal
Penitentiary Service)
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guyana
Nicaragua
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela
Period
2006‐2010
Number of violent deaths
26
2005‐2009
2005‐2009
2005‐2009
2005 and June 2010
2006 and May 6, 2010
2006‐2010
2006‐2010
2006‐2010
2005‐2009
2005‐2009
203
113
25
172
72
10
4
2
57
1,865
274.
These official figures clearly show that at present the State with the
highest recorded number of violent deaths as a result of prison violence is Venezuela. 307
According to information supplied by the Venezuelan State, the total figure of 1,865
persons killed in prisons includes data for the last five years: in 2005, 381 inmates died
violently; in 2006, 388; in 2007, 458; in 2008, 374; and in 2009, 264. 308 In this context,
based on the figures of inmates killed and injured, the IACHR has found that in comparative
terms, Venezuelan prisons are the most violent in the region. 309
275.
At a thematic hearing on the situation of persons deprived of liberty in
Venezuela, held at the 141st regular session of the IACHR, the Observatorio Venezolano de
306
OAS General Assembly resolutions AG/RES. 2510 (XXXIX‐O/09), adopted on June 4, 2009; AG/RES.
2403 (XXXVIII‐O/08), adopted on June 13, 2008; AG/RES. 2283 (XXXVII‐O/07), adopted on June 5, 2007; and
AG/RES. 2233 (XXXVI‐O/06), adopted on June 6, 2006.
307
The IACHR has monitored the prison situation in Venezuela via different mechanisms, using the
same to voice its concern and made recommendations to the State. In this context, the IACHR adopted on 2009 a
report entitled Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela, Chapter VI of which contains an extensive analysis of
the situation of prison violence; it held five public hearings between November 2009 and March 2011 (at its 137º,
138º, 140º and 141º regular sessions), which dealt with the situation of the rights of persons deprived of liberty; it
requested and has been monitoring seven provisional measures granted by the Inter‐American Court between
January 2006 and November 2010; it has issued at least seven press releases between 2007 and the first quarter
of 2011, in which it reiterates the State's duty to adopt concrete measures to protect the lives and right to
humane treatment of individuals in its custody; and it has been consistently making clear its position in this
connection in Chapter IV of all its annual reports adopted since 2005.
308
Response received by note No. 000291 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
309
IACHR, Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela, para. 881.
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