The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday voted to add Venezuela to its 47-member Human Rights Council, despite stringent opposition from activists denouncing the country’s human rights record under its president, Nicolás Maduro. Philippe Bolopion, deputy director for global advocacy at Human Rights Watch, called the selection of Venezuela “a slap in the face to the country’s countless victims.”Venezuela has been in a state of economic collapse for years, which has led to dangerous shortages of food, medication and electricity. Among other abuses, Mr. Maduro and his administration have been accused of withholding from the public humanitarian aid from other nations and of manipulating voters in exchange for food and medical care. The United Nations’ own humanitarian affairs chief estimated this spring that about one-quarter of Venezuela’s population, or seven million people, were in need of humanitarian aid. Conditions there have caused millions of Venezuelans to flee the country, largely on foot.

Source: New York Times October 17, 2019 19:18 UTC