Venezuela

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized the increasing restrictions on civic space in Venezuela ahead of the upcoming elections, calling for open dialogue and measures to address issues in health, education, and living conditions

The UN will deploy an Electoral Expert Panel in Venezuela early this month to provide a confidential report to the UN Secretary-General on the presidential elections, including recommendations for future improvements, without making any public statements

8 of 10 candidates in Venezuela’s upcoming elections, including President Nicolas Maduro, signed an agreement binding them to respect the results as announced by electoral authorities, something the country has struggled with in past elections

Venezuela and China celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations, reaffirming a strategic partnership, and pledging cooperation in trade, technology, and more; both nations stated that they aim to oppose Western sanctions and promote a multipolar world

Venezuela will receive experts from Iran to assist with medical accelerators, especially crucial for cancer treatment, as Western sanctions reportedly halted their current medical operations

Venezuela celebrated International Workers' Day with marches nationwide, with various labor leaders emphasized the significance of the Bolivarian Revolution in improving workers' rights and dignity

Venezuela has been reportedly breaking its promise to provide free drugs for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), coupled with inadequate sexual education in public schools, leading to a concerning lack of awareness among young women about HPV and its vaccines

Oil sanctions on Venezuela have been reinstated by the US, criticizing President Nicolás Maduro's attempts to solidify his rule just 6 months after the US had relaxed restrictions in an effort to support “now-faded hopes” for democracy in the nation

The Venezuelan NGO Acceso a la Justicia denounced the reduction of voter registration centers in Venezuela, claiming that this is aiming to discourage citizen participation in the upcoming presidential elections on 28 July

Venezuela has approved the creation of a state in the disputed, oil-rich Essequibo region across the border in Guyana, sparking a "violation" of Guyana's sovereignty, with tensions escalated as the area has been administered by Guyana for over a century

President Maduro, following a meeting with his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Ali, reiterated his call for a "peaceful solution" to the longstanding territorial dispute between the two countries