Prioritize Venezuelan political prisoners
Petitioners ask Canada to demand unconditional release and exile of Venezuelan political prisoners with Canadian ties, notably Igbert Marin Chaparro and Oswaldo Garcia Palomo. The government responds that it advocates detainees' release and pursues sanctions.
Why we would sign this petition
- It prioritizes Canadians’ family members held in Venezuela, increasing the chance of release and safe exile for the named detainees.
- Making release a precondition to concessions centers human rights in diplomacy and adds leverage for international pressure on Venezuelan authorities.
- Including prisoners in negotiations focuses talks on concrete humanitarian outcomes rather than only political or economic arrangements.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Conditioning concessions on specific releases could reduce incentive for the Venezuelan government to negotiate, delaying broader diplomatic progress.
- Canada’s unilateral demands may have limited leverage and could prompt retaliatory measures that harm wider human-rights or humanitarian efforts.
- Prioritizing a small number of cases could complicate immigration fairness and resource allocation for other asylum-seekers or refugees.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The current Canadian government is aware of the crimes against humanity by the Venezuelan government and has created a Family based Humanitarian program for Colombian, Haitians and Venezuelans suffering under current country conditions; Canada has been one of the six countries that submitted Venezuela to the International Criminal Court denouncing crimes against humanity as defined by the Roma Statute. Such submission prompted a preliminary examination in February 2018 by the ICJ for an investigation of Venezuela allegedly committing four of the 12 crimes prosecuted by the Roma statute. The four crimes are political persecution, forced disappearance, sexual abuse and systematic torture. The preliminary examination is ongoing; Several international organizations, including Canadian NGO Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), led by former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, have recognized the unjust incarcerations, torture, forced disappearance and political persecution of 257 individuals, including 146 military personnel. The RWCHR has taken on three political prisoners in Venezuela: Maria Afiuni, Leopoldo Lopez and Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro. Lopez is living in exile in Spain while Afiuni and Marin Chaparro, a Venezuelan individual with a Canadian brother continues to face human rights violations despite the NGO's legal efforts and advocacy at the UN; Venezuela will be hosting presidential elections in December 2024. The regime has historically intensified systematic human rights violations during election periods to increase fear and increase citizen compliance with their undemocratic rules, such as no right to protest, censorship, monitored voting, coercion and no freedom of movement and association; Millions of Venezuelans continue to risk their lives in their aim to flee persecution and repression, causing them to seek asylum across the world; and At least three of the 257 political prisoners have close family relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro has a Canadian brother, Jesus Maria Alarcon Camacho has a Canadian cousin and Oswaldo Valentin Garcia Palomo's family escaped torture and forced disappearance in Venezuela and are now permanent residents. Venezuelan agents conducted a violent search inside Igbert and Oswaldo's confinement places on Dec 20, 2023, leaving them naked and removing all their personal belongings, including books, family photos and medications. Their belongings have not been returned, which constitutes white torture and a risk to their deteriorating health situation. Garcia Palomo received death threats on Jan. 20, 2024. Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to: Include political prisoners with close ties to Canada, particularly Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro and Oswaldo Valentin Garcia Palomo, in any discussion or negotiation to restore diplomatic ties between Canada and Venezuela; Advocate for the unconditional release of the prisoners of conscience Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro and Oswaldo Valentin Garcia Palomo, due to their strong family ties in Canada, and all political prisoners in Venezuela BEFORE any concessions given to the Venezuelan government by Canada and by the international community; and Request the release and further exile to Canada of Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro and Oswaldo Valentin Garcia Palomo due to their strong family ties in Canada BEFORE any concession is given to Venezuela, such as any sanction release, re-opening of mutual embassies and economic agreements.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant Canada remains deeply concerned by the ongoing political, social and economic crisis in Venezuela. Canadian officials are aware of the arbitrary detention of more than 900 political prisoners in Venezuela, and consistently advocate for their release, physical integrity and well-being, as well as for the end of repression and persecution of dissenting voices. We are aware of numerous cases of mistreatment, including the detention and violent search inside Igbert Jose Marin Chaparro and Oswaldo Valentin Garcia Palomo’s places of confinement. Canada will continue to denounce the severe human rights abuses and acts of violence that have followed the July 28, 2024, presidential election, as well as the May 25, 2025, legislative and regional elections, and demands the immediate release of individuals who have been arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned or detained. Canada works with the international community to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and crimes against humanity. We believe that international accountability mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court, play a critical role in addressing these grave injustices. Canada’s position is in line with its longstanding advocacy for the restoration of civil and political rights in Venezuela, including restrictions on civic space and the protection of human rights defenders. Canada advocates within multilateral institutions for the restoration of civil and political rights in Venezuela, including those arbitrarily detained. For example, Canada led the renewal of the mandates of the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor and promote human rights in Venezuela in 2024. In recent months, Canada increased sanctions, with 139 individuals now sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. These sanctions focus on individuals involved in gross human rights violations, acts undermining democratic institutions, and/or significant acts of corruption. Currently, such sanctions include travel and dealings bans. Canada has not recognized the de facto authorities in Venezuela as that country’s legitimate government since the 2018 elections. Further, based on independent and credible accounts of the outcome of the July 2024 presidential election, Canada has recognized Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as president-elect of Venezuela. The operations of the Embassy of Canada in Venezuela were temporarily suspended in June 2019 as relations deteriorated. Notwithstanding this suspension, Government of Canada officials remain committed to work with appropriate actors to restore and reinforce democracy and human rights in Venezuela. Canada also continues to work with partners to address the basic needs of Venezuelans inside and outside their country and to alleviate the impact of the humanitarian crisis.