Venezuela
Venezuela has dedicated counterterrorism provisions in a 2012 law that also addresses terrorist financing. There is no carve-out for the exercise of fundamental human rights.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
Venezuela's 2012 Law on Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing defines terrorism as follows:
an intentional act which by its nature or its context, could seriously harm a country or an international organization that amounts to a criminal offence under the laws of Venezuela, committed in order to seriously intimidate a population; improperly compel governments or an international organization to perform an act or refrain from doing so; or seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organization.Art. 4(1), 2012 Law on Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing.
Predicate terrorism offences are the following:
a. attempts on the life of a person that may cause death;
b. attacks against the physical integrity of a person;
c. kidnapping or hostage-taking;
d. causing massive destruction to government or public facilities, transportation systems, infrastructure, including information systems, fixed or floating platforms located in the area exclusive economic or on the continental shelf, public places or private property that may endanger human lives or produce great economic damage;
e. seizure of aircraft and ships or other means of transport collective, or merchandise;
f. manufacturing, holding, acquiring, transporting, supplying, developing or use of firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological and chemicals;
g. release of hazardous substances, or fire causing, floods or explosions whose effect is to endanger human lives;
h. disturbance or interruption of the supply of water, electricity or other fundamental natural resource whose effect is to endanger human lives.Art. 4(1), 2012 Law on Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Venezuela is a State Party to most of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | State not party |
Venezuela is also a State Party to the main regional treaty on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 2002 Inter-American Convention against Terrorism | State Party |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The 2012 Law prescribes prison sentences of twenty-five to thirty years for the perpetration of acts of terrorism and fifteen to twenty-five years for the crime of terrorist financing.Arts. 52 and 53, 2012 Law on Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
Venezuela has counterterrorism expertise in its national police, the Cuerpo de Policía Nacional Bolivariana (CPNB).
Glossary
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