We, the undersigned organizations and individuals , reiterate to the national and international community our alarm and firm opposition to the “Law for the Control, Regularization, Performance and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations” reactivated by the National Assembly (NA). This law is being pushed through an apparent public consultation process for possible approval, despite receiving numerous well-founded objections from the international community throughout 2023. Entities such as the Office of the High Commissioner and Special Procedures of the United Nations, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Independent Fact-Finding Mission, and both national and international civil society have raised concerns about its blatant violation of the right to freedom of association and other human rights. This law threatens to permanently shut down and militarize civic spaces, causing irreparable harm to the rights of the population and the social fabric of Venezuelan society.
With clear procedural flaws and lacking an official text published by the National Assembly (NA) or any public entity, only an unofficial version of the bill is known. Despite being approved in its first discussion a year ago on January 24, 2023, without any prior broad and inclusive call through mass or official media, on January 12 of this year, the so-called consultation commenced at the NA headquarters in Caracas, televised by the parliamentary channel. This consultation revealed a clear intention to target, criminalize, and discredit Venezuelan civil society, as evidenced by the exposure of a pre-existing list of 62 organizations accused of crimes punishable under this law. Notably, the consultation was conducted in the presence of a majority of military and police intelligence bodies.
Regarding the content of the text, we emphasize that:
This law is not a regulatory instrument. Venezuela already has a legally established regulatory system that supports the exercise of freedom of association in accordance with constitutional norms. This system covers registration, accountability, and control. However, since 2010, the State has imposed discretionary and arbitrary mechanisms that impede procedures. In 2019, this system was partially suspended, further centralizing and limiting it, causing significant challenges for foundations and civil associations to comply with legal requirements. Notably, there is a military registration requirement in the Registry for Integral Defense, administered by the Ministry of the People’s Power for Defense, as outlined in Article 35 and following of the Law of Registration and Enlistment for the Integral Defense of the Nation.
This law is not designed to improve the prevention and punishment of potential illicit or irregular situations involving civil associations and foundations. This is evident in the state’s own declarations and exchange of information with international organizations, such as the CFATF in the Mutual Evaluation of March 2023, where the state affirmed that such alleged incidents rarely occur in the country and are subject to judicial procedures that uphold the rule of law and due process.
Furthermore, the explanatory memorandum and articles of the law redefine the right of association as a matter of “public order,” which heightens suspicion and presumption of crimes. This opens the door to unjustified intervention by military and security forces in monitoring and controlling non-profit associations. Consequently, it exacerbates the criminalization, penalization, and illegalization of freedoms such as peaceful assembly, expression, information, participation, and defense of rights. It undermines rights related to denunciation, criticism, questioning, or peaceful dissent, as well as access to systems for protecting rights and international cooperation for humanitarian assistance and development, equating these rights with “terrorism,” “conspiracy,” “destabilization,” “foreign interference,” or simply “political activities.”
It does not promote or protect the right to freedom of association.
On the contrary, this law lacks any justification and contravenes both the Constitution and international standards that safeguard the free, civil, and autonomous nature of the right to association. It extends its reach in an absolute, ambiguous, and disproportionate manner to all foundations and civil associations governed by private non-profit law. It disregards existing registries required for associations with legal personhood to operate in the country under the current system and laws, which it deems non-existent.
Moreover, it establishes a new associative military regime of “public relevance,” which operates outside constitutional bounds and imposes state authorization, control, and supervision over all aspects of associations’ life cycles, including their purposes, establishment, operation, and activities. The law criminalizes all de facto associations and imposes a system of unnecessary, permanent controls and additional requirements that are incompatible with the civil nature of associations, rendering compliance impossible.
Specifically, this law violates Article 5 of the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, which prohibits the destruction of rights or their excessive restriction. It therefore pursues unconstitutional objectives and violates international human rights standards, barring consultation or potential improvement, as reiterated by human rights protection bodies and Venezuelan civil society in defense of their rights. They demand that the State either repeal or refrain from adopting any measure or law that may restrict the exercise of the right to freedom of association or lead to unwarranted control of civil society organizations or interference in their activities. Instead, the State must establish a secure and supportive environment for all civil society organizations to operate in all domains, including civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental, without fear of reprisals.
The bill’s proposed suppression of civic space and the right of association, along with the virtual nullification of non-profit foundations’ and civil associations’ activities, profoundly impacts the conditions for the upcoming electoral process in the country. Ensuring fair and democratic elections entails not only permitting unrestricted participation of candidates but also maintaining a vigorous and robust civil society capable of exercising citizen oversight and promoting the right to vote.
The international community and all stakeholders involved in addressing the Venezuelan crisis and seeking a peaceful and democratic transition cannot overlook this threat that undermines the conduct of fair, secure, and free elections. Genuine elections in Venezuela are impossible without the participation of civil society, which must not be subject to control by military entities. Compliance with the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All must include ensuring and respecting the right of association of non-governmental organizations.
Accordingly:
1) We call on the National Assembly not to proceed with the advancement and discussion of a text that blatantly violates multiple human rights, disrespects the National Constitution, and fails to contribute to improving the country’s environment, especially within the context of a Complex Humanitarian Emergency and the electoral period.
2) We urge the national and international community to reject the adoption of the Law for the Control, Regularization, Performance and Financing of NGOs, as well as any other regulatory text that excessively limits the exercise of the right to freedom of association or results in unwarranted military control or interference in the activities of civil society organizations.
Undersigned organizations:
A.C. Casa del Nuevo Pueblo
A.C. CEDISUC
A.C. Comunidad en Movimiento
A.C. Concentroccidente del GS Cesap
A.C. Jóvenes y Desarrollo
Academia Nacional de la Ingeniería y el Hábitat
Acceso a la Justicia
Acción Campesina
ACOANA
Activados Panamá
Agencia Cojedeña de Investigación (ACI)
AlertaVenezuela
Alianza de Familiares y Víctimas en Venezuela (ALFAVIC VENEZUELA)
Alianza por Venezuela
Alma
Amigos Trasplantados de Venezuela
Amnistía Internacional
Apuneg
Aquí Cabemos Todos
Asociación Civil Centro Campesino El Convite
Asociación Civil Ecológica y Social Chunikai
Asociación Civil Fuerza, Unión, Justicia, Solidaridad y Paz (FUNPAZ)
Asociación Civil Los Naguaritos
Asociación Civil Portachuelo
Asociación Civil Radar de los Barrios
Asociación Civil Súmate
Asociación Civil Uniandes
Asociación Civil Venezolanos en Córdoba Argentina
Asociación Comunitaria Blandin
Asociación de Profesores de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
Asociación de Propietarios y Residentes de Prados del Este
Asociación Migrantes Venezolanos
Asociación Venezolana de Servicios de Salud de Orientación Cristiana (Avessoc)
Asociación Venezolana para la Hemofilia
Asocoinbar
ASOENVEAR
ASOVEDRA
Aula Abierta
AVEPR
CAFE DDHH
Caleidoscopio Humano
Caminando y Construyendo Sociedad Inclusiva
CAMPO
Canada Venezuela Democracy Forum
Cátedra de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado
CCCB – Consejo Consultivo de la Ciudad de Barquisimeto
CECAVID
Centro de Acción y Defensa por los Derechos Humanos (CADEF)
Centro de Activismo y Desarrollo Democrático para la región (CDDLatam)
Centro de Animación Juvenil
Centro de Atención Integral Psicopedagógica Individual (CAIPI)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello
Centro de Estudios Derecho y Democracia (CEDED)
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales – CELS (Argentina)
Centro de Investigación Social Formación y Estudios de la Mujer – CISFEM
Centro de Justicia y Paz – Cepaz
Centro para la Paz y Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Central de Venezuela
Centro para los Defensores y la Justicia (CDJ)
Cescoop
Circuito Gran Cine
Ciudadanía Activa
Ciudadano Nuevo
Civil Rights Defenders
Civilis Derechos Humanos
Clima21
Coalición por Venezuela
Colegio de Abogados del Estado Bolívar
Colegio de Enfermería de Puerto Cabello
Colegio de Enfermería
Comisión de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela del estado Apure
Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela del estado Lara
Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela del estado Táchira
Comisión para los Derechos Humanos del Estado Zulia (Codhez)
Comisión para los Derechos Humanos y la Ciudadanía (CODEHCIU)
Comité de DDHH para la Defensa de Pensionados, Jubilados, Adultos Mayores y Personas con Discapacidad
Comité para la defensa de los derechos humanos parroquia Coche
Comité por la Libertad de los Luchadores Sociales – Guárico
Compromiso Ciudadano
Confederación de Trabajadores de Venezuela en el Estado Guárico (CTV-GUARICO)
Consejo de Migrantes Refugiados y Colombianos Retornados de Bogotá
Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento-CODHES.
Consorven
Control Ciudadano para la Seguridad, la Defensa y la Fuerza Armada Nacional
Cooperativa Dan Buen Cine
Corporación Colonia venezolana en Colombia
Creemos Alianza Ciudadana
Cumaná Mía
Damas de Blanco Venezuela
Due Process of Law Foundation
Ecoefecto
Educación para mejor vivir ONG
EPIKEIA Derechos Humanos
Equalia
Equipo de Proyectos y Asesoría Social
Familia SOS Libertad
Federación de Asociaciones de Profesores Universitarios de Venezuela (FAPUV)
Federación Nacional de Sociedades de Padres y Representantes – FENASOPADRES
FetraYaracuy
FICU. Fundación para la integración Cultural de Migrantes y Refugiados
Fordisi
Foro Hatillano
Foro Penal
Foro San Antonio
Foro Venezolano de Política Exterior
FPPM-VE (Familiares de Presos Políticos Militares)
Frente Norte de Caracas
FUDECI
Fundación Agua Sin Fronteras
Fundación Aguaclara
Fundación Alianzas Solidarias
Fundación Amigos del Casco Histórico Ciudad de Barquisimeto
Fundación Caminando Contigo
Fundación Colonia de Venezuela en la República Dominicana Funcoverd
Fundación de los Derechos Humanos Anzoátegui
Fundación Dignidad, Justicia y Libertad, ONG OMNIPRODNAM
Fundación Duendes y Ángeles Vinotinto
Fundación Escuela de Artes escénicas Juan Parra
Fundación GRACE: Give Refugees a Chance
Fundación Haciendo Panas
Fundación Iribarren Lucha
Fundación John Boulton
Fundación Laboratorio de Desarrollo Humano
Fundación Loto Azul
Fundación Lucelia
Fundación Mahuampi Venezuela
Fundación Manitas Amarillas
Fundación Nakama’s
Fundación ORGANIZACIÓN INDEPENDIENTE REGIONAL O.I.R.
Fundación para el Debido Proceso “Fundepro”
Fundación para el Desarrollo Integral (FUNDESI)
Fundación para la Prevención de la Violencia Contra las Mujeres
Fundación San José de Chacao
Fundación Sine Qua Non
Fundación Venezolanos en el Exterior
Fundación Yo Te Apoyo
FundaRedes
Fundeci A.C.
Fundehullan
Gente del Petróleo
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Grupo Interdisciplanario Emergencia Humanitaria en Agua
Grupo La Colina A C.
Grupo Orinoco
Grupo Social Cesap
Hearts On Venezuela
Ideas por la Democracia
Impulsa Latinoamérica
Instituto CASLA
Instituto de Investigaciones de la Comunicación ININCO, UCV
Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UCAB
Instituto de Prensa y Libertad de Expresión (IPLEX)
Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos
Instituto para la Paz y el Desarrollo – IPADES
Instituto Venezolano de Estudios Sociales y Políticos -INVESP
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Justicia y Proceso Venezuela
Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón
Labo
Laboratorio de Paz
M.B.I. en Acción
Madres Poderosas
MAPANI
Mavid Carabobo
Mayday CONFAVIDT
Médicos Unidos de Venezuela
Mi Convive
Monitor Social A.C.
Movimiento Ciudadano Uniendo Voluntades
Movimiento de Trabajadores 9 de Enero
Movimiento Nacional Iniciativa de los Consumidores
Movimiento Por la Democracia (MPD)
Mulier
Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de Los Andes
Observatorio de Derechos Humanos del Centro de Animación Juvenil
Observatorio de Ecología Política de Venezuela
Observatorio de Venezuela de la Universidad del Rosario
Observatorio de Violencias LGBTIQ+
Observatorio Electoral Venezolano (OEV)
Observatorio Geopolítico de América Latina
Observatorio Global de Comunicación y Democracia
Observatorio Hannah Arendt Chapter USA
Observatorio Venezolano DDHHMujeres
Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones
Observatorio Venezolano de Violencia
Odevida, Capítulo Venezuela
ONG El Despertar Ciudadano
ONG Hombres por la Equidad e igualdad
ONG Migrantes por el Maule
ONG Red Reto
ONG Unión Venezolana en Perú
Oportunidad Acciones Ciudadanas
Orfavideh. Organización de Familiares de Víctimas de Ejecuciones Extrajudiciales
Organización StopVIH
Osc.Ação Social Irmandade Sem Fronteiras
Padres Organizados de Venezuela
Paz Activa
Plan País
Plataforma Ayuda Venezuela
Por la Familia Venezolana
Prepara Familia
Pro-Venezuela Verein
PROMEDEHUM
Provea – Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos
Proyecto Monitor de Derechos Humanos
Psicoven
Red DDHH-Lara / Proyecto Roscio
Red de Organizaciones Vecinales de Baruta
Red Mérida Feminista
Red Vecinal
Red Venezolana de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil, SINERGIA
RedesAyuda / Humano Derecho Radio Estación
Resonalia
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
SAVE MY IDENTITY
Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados para Latinoamérica y el Caribe – JRS LAC
Sindicato Agropecuario Estado Carabobo
Sindicato Sidernac
Sorbos de Saber
SOS Pacientes Renales
SOS Venezuela Radio
SUNEP-INPARQUES
Tejiendo Redes Infancia en América Latina y el Caribe
The Norwegian Venezuelan Justice Alliance
Todos por el Futuro
Transparencia Electoral
Un Mundo Sin Mordaza
Una Ventana a la Libertad
Unión Afirmativa de Venezuela
Unión Vecinal para la Participación Ciudadana AC
Vecinos Activos
VENEMEX
Venezuela Global
Vicaría de DDHH Arquidiócesis de Barquisimeto
Voto Joven
Wainjirawa-UAIN
100% Estrógeno
Undersigned individuals:
Ana Fernández
Ana María Ruggeri Cova
Aníbal Rosales
Antonietta Jeanette Bastidas Hernández
Aurelio Useche Kislnger
Barbara Reuss
Brian Schapira
Carmen Martínez de Grijalva
César Batiz
Claudia Astor M.
Consuelo Ramos
Daniel Vivas
Daniela Guerra
Darío Manuel Gómez Suárez
Deixon Alberto
Eddie A. Ramírez S.
Edgardo Romero Chirinos
Edward Ocariz
Esperanza Ardila
Estefanía Meléndez
Floralba Hernández
Franci Sánchez Zambrano
Gabriele Merz
Gery Vásquez Cucho
Gustavo Sarmiento
Iraida Lovera
Isabel Quintero
Javier Samuel Paredes
Jeanette Moreno
Jeanfreddy Gutiérrez Torres
Jeisi Blanco
Jesús Castellanos Vásquez
Jhonny Díaz Apitz
Joel García
José Allen
José Amando Mejía
Juan Alonso Molina
Juan Carlos Fernández Montoya
Juan Carlos Gabaldón
Juan Martínez
Judith Brazon
Judith Vega Mejía
Julio César Fernández Toro
Kethy Mendoza
Kiomara Scovino
Leonardo R Argüello L
Leyla Escobar
Lisbeth Robles
Luis Manuel Marcano Salazar
Luis Trincado
María Antonieta Torres Ferrer
María Clara Robayo León
María de Lourdes Ríos de Chiossone
María Eugenia Escalona Montesinos
María Jesús Torres
María Teresa Romero
Mariángel Navas
Maygret Ordóñez
Mayra Medina
Miguel Pizarro
Milagros GIL QUINTERO
Prof. Carlos Ayala Corao
Ramón Cardozo
Raúl Azparren M.
Raúl Emilio Baduel Cafarelli
Rebeca Pernalete
Reinaldo Rojas
Renato Bernieri
Ricardo Zeas Mendoza
Rigoberto Lobo
Roberto López Sánchez
Roger Crespo
Santiago Clavijo A.
Santiago Loyo
Scarleth Mujica
Simón Gómez Guaimara
Simón Mora
Tamara Bechar
Tawfik Hennaoi
Teresita Oramas
Víctor Faza
Víctor Hernández Mendible
Víctor Márquez Corao
William Figueroa
William Requejo Orobio
Yaneth Josefina Torres
Yelitza Espinoza
Yorbelis Oropeza
Ysmenia Barceló
Zair Mundaray Rodríguez
Zoraida Pereira