Meeting in the city of Rabat, Morocco, on December 20, 21, and 22, 2024, the members of the World Council of the Socialist International express our deep concern over the serious political, economic, and social crisis that persists in Venezuela. On this occasion, we make an emphatic call for respect for the popular will expressed in the elections of July 28, 2024, for the immediate release of political prisoners, and for an end to all forms of political persecution. We declare the following:
We reiterate the call to the international community to carry out a clear, transparent, and reliable verification of the voting records, electoral results, and the popular will unequivocally expressed on July 28, 2024, in Venezuela. Any attempt to alter the decision of the Venezuelan people compromises the essential principles of democracy and worsens the institutional situation in the country. We urge the prompt restoration of democratic order and the full respect of the electoral results as a legitimate manifestation of popular sovereignty.
We support dialogue and international mediation. We urge the parties to genuinely commit to this process, prioritizing the well-being of the Venezuelan people and the restoration of the rule of law.
We call for the immediate cessation of judicial interventions on political organizations, as well as the restoration of their management to legitimately constituted authorities, ensuring full respect for their autonomy and leadership.
We call for the immediate end of any kind of repression and persecution against civil society organizations and human rights defenders, whose voices are fundamental to the strengthening of a plural and democratic society. The limitation of citizen participation through restrictive regulations is incompatible with the essential principles of a democratic system.
We recognize that the economic and social crisis in Venezuela has caused one of the largest migratory exoduses in recent Latin American history. More than 7 million Venezuelans have left their country in search of safety, opportunities, and a better future. This migration crisis has profound implications for host countries, which have shown great solidarity in welcoming these citizens. We are aware that if a clear solution is not achieved in 2025, a new wave of migration will significantly affect the countries of the region.
We call on the international community to intensify its efforts to support the countries receiving and assisting Venezuelan migrants through humanitarian aid and programs for social and labor integration. At the same time, we call on the governments of the region to guarantee the fundamental rights of migrants, avoiding their criminalization and promoting their inclusion in host economies and societies, in compliance with international commitments on human rights.
We offer ourselves as a space for mediation and dialogue to contribute to the resolution of the Venezuelan crisis. The Socialist International is ready to facilitate meetings between the parties with the aim of restoring respect for democratic institutions, human rights, and voting as a fundamental tool to resolve political differences. Likewise, we commit to working with the countries of the region on the creation of coordinated policies to address the migration crisis and its humanitarian repercussions, with a view to building a dignified future for Venezuelans both inside and outside their country.
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