 | |
| Formation | October 15, 1988 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Focus | Human rights activism |
| Location | |
| Website | provea |
The Venezuelan Education-Action Program on Human Rights or PROVEA (Spanish: Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos) is one of the most prominent Venezuelan human rights organizations. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, PROVEA "is an independent and autonomous non-governmental organization, which aims to promote and defend human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights".[1]
History
editPROVEA was founded on 15 October 1988 by Ligia Bolivar, a former Amnesty International employee, Dianorah Contramaestre, a Christian community worker and Raúl Cubas, a former detainee of the Argentine dictatorship.[2] Its mission was to be an independent watchdog of the Venezuelan people's economic, social and cultural rights.[3]
In 2024, as the human rights situation in Venezuela deteriorated under the rule of President Nicolas Maduro, government officials declared PROVEA to be an "enemy of the people."[3] PROVEA has offered support to imprisoned human rights activists, including Martha Lía Grajales.[4]
Reception
editA 1993 Human Rights Watch publication titled Human Rights in Venezuela, recognized PROVEA for creating "training programs for human rights activists throughout the country."[5]
In 2010 PROVEA received the John Humphrey Freedom Award.
President Hugo Chávez stated that "PROVEA is an institution that I know, with which we share the defense of human rights, they are in favor of our rights and our families".[6] José Miguel Vivanco, the Director of Human Rights Watch in the Americas said that "PROVEA is one of the most prestigious organizations in the region. It is an honor for us to work together with them."[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Venezuela - Adoption of the list of issues by the Human Rights Committee" (PDF). United Nations Human Rights Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ "Nuestra Historia". www.derechos.org.ve (in European Spanish). PROVEA. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Paúl, María Luisa (2024-05-18). "As repression rises in Venezuela, a human rights group keeps investigating". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ "Provea denuncia detención de activista de DDHH Martha Lía Grajales" [Provea denounces the arrest of human rights activist Martha Lía Grajales]. Efecto Cocuyo (in Spanish). 2025-08-08. Archived from the original on 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
- ^ Rohde, Clifford C. (1993). Human Rights in Venezuela. Human Rights Watch. p. 15. ISBN 9781564321145.
- ^ a b "PROVEA | Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos". www.derechos.org.ve (in European Spanish). PROVEA. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
