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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe following are functions of the People Defender:
1. To see that the human rights provided for in this Constitution and in the international treaties, agreements and conventions on human rights ratified by the Republic are effectively respected and guaranteed, investigating either on his own initiative or at the request of any denunciation of which he or she becomes aware.
2. To see to the proper functioning of public services; protect and defend the legitimate, collective and diffuse rights and interests of persons against arbitrary acts, abuse of authority and errors committed in the providing of such public services, filing when appropriate, any actions to demand that the State compensate parties subject to its administrative actions for any damages that may have been caused them in connection with the functioning of such public services.
3. To file unconstitutionality actions, summary constitutional remedies, habeas corpus, habeas data and any other actions or motions necessary in order to exercise the powers indicated above, where proper in accordance with law.
4. To urge the General Prosecutor of the Republic to pursue any appropriate actions or motions against public Officials responsible for violations of or encroachment upon human rights.
5. To ask the Republican Ethic Council to take the appropriate measures with regard to public officials responsible for violations of or encroachment upon human rights.
6. To ask the competent authority to apply appropriate corrective and punitive measures in cases involving violations of the rights of consumers and users, in accordance with law.
7. To submit to legislative organs at the municipal, state or national levels, bills or other initiatives for the progressive protection of human rights.
8. To protect the rights of native peoples and take such action as may be necessary to guarantee and protect such rights effectively.
9. To visit and inspect the dependencies and establishments of State agencies, to prevent or protect human rights.
10. To place before the appropriate organs recommendations and observations as necessary in the interest of providing optimum protection for human rights, to which end shall develop mechanisms for remaining in constant communication with national and international public and private organs for the protection and defense of human rights.
11. To promote and implement policies for the expansion and effective protection of human rights.
12. Such other functions as may be established by the Constitution and by law. (Art. 281) - SpanishSon atribuciones del Defensor o Defensora del Pueblo:
1. Velar por el efectivo respeto y garantía de los derechos humanos consagrados en esta Constitución y en los tratados, convenios y acuerdos internacionales sobre derechos humanos ratificados por la República, investigando de oficio o a instancia de parte las denuncias que lleguen a su conocimiento.
2. Velar por el correcto funcionamiento de los servicios públicos, amparar y proteger los derechos e intereses legítimos, colectivos y difusos de las personas, contra las arbitrariedades, desviaciones de poder y errores cometidos en la prestación de los mismos, interponiendo cuando fuere procedente las acciones necesarias para exigir al Estado el resarcimiento a los administrados de los daños y perjuicios que les sean ocasionado con motivo del funcionamiento de los servicios públicos.
3. Interponer las acciones de inconstitucionalidad, amparo, habeas corpus, habeas data y las demás acciones o recursos necesarios para ejercer las atribuciones señaladas en los ordinales anteriores, cuando fuere procedente de conformidad con la ley.
4. Instar al Fiscal o Fiscala General de la República para que intente las acciones o recursos a que hubiere lugar contra los funcionarios públicos o funcionarias públicas, responsables de la violación o menoscabo de los derechos humanos.
5. Solicitar al Consejo Moral Republicano que adopte las medidas a que hubiere lugar respecto de los funcionarios públicos o funcionarias públicas responsables por la violación o menoscabo de los derechos humanos.
6. Solicitar ante el órgano competente la aplicación de los correctivos y las sanciones a que hubiere lugar por la violación de los derechos del público consumidor y usuario, de conformidad con la ley.
7. Presentar ante los órganos legislativos nacionales, estadales o municipales, proyectos de ley u otras iniciativas para la protección progresiva de los derechos humanos.
8. Velar por los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y ejercer las acciones necesarias para su garantía y efectiva protección.
9. Visitar e inspeccionar las dependencias y establecimientos de los órganos del Estado, a fin de prevenir o proteger los derechos humanos.
10. Formular ante los órganos correspondientes las recomendaciones y observaciones necesarias para la mejor protección de los derechos humanos, para lo cual desarrollará mecanismos de comunicación permanente con órganos públicos o privados, nacionales e internacionales, de protección y defensa de los derechos humanos.
11. Promover y ejecutar políticas para la difusión y efectiva protección de los derechos humanos.
12. Las demás que establezcan la Constitución y la ley. (Art. 281)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishAn office known as the OFFICE OF CITIZEN PROTECTION is established to protect all individuals against any form of abuse by the government. (Art. 207)
- Frenchll est créé un office dénommé OFFICE DE LA PROTECTION DU CITOYEN dont le but est de protéger tout individu contre toutes les formes d'abus de l'Administration Publique. (Art. 207)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Public Ministry shall be made up of the General Prosecutor of the Nation, the Ombudsman, the assigned public prosecutors, and the agents of the Public Ministry before the legal authorities, as well as by municipal representatives and other official determined by an Act. It is the responsibility of the Public Ministry to defend and promote human rights, to protect the public interest, and to oversee the official conduct of those who perform public functions. (Art. 118)
- SpanishEl Ministerio Público será ejercido por el Procurador General de la Nación, por el Defensor del Pueblo, por los procuradores delegados y los agentes del ministerio público, ante las autoridades jurisdiccionales, por los personeros municipales y por los demás funcionarios que determine la ley. Al Ministerio Público corresponde la guarda y promoción de los derechos humanos, la protección del interés público y la vigilancia de la conducta oficial de quienes desempeñan funciones públicas. (Art. 118)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, the Ombudsman may investigate any action taken by any department of Government or by any other authority to which this article applies, or by the President, Ministers, officers or members of such a department or authority, being action taken in exercise of the administrative functions of that department or authority.
(2) The Ombudsman may investigate any such action as aforesaid in any of the following circumstances, that is to say -
(a) if a complaint in respect of the action is duly made to the Ombudsman by any person or body or persons, whether incorporated or not alleging that the complainant has sustained injustice in consequence of a fault in administration;
(b) if the President, a Minister or a member of the National Assembly requests the Ombudsman to investigate the action on the ground that a person or body of persons specified in the request has or may have sustained such injustice;
(c) in any other circumstances in which the Ombudsman considers that he ought to investigate the action on the ground that some person or body of persons has or may have sustained such injustice.
(3) The Ombudsman shall not investigate under this Subtitle -
(a) any action in respect of which the complainant has or had -
(i) a remedy by way of proceedings in a court; or
(ii) a right of appeal, reference or review to or before an independent and impartial tribunal other than a court; or
(b) any such action, or action taken with respect to any such matter, as is excluded from investigation under article 193:
Provided that the Ombudsman -
(i) may conduct an investigation notwithstanding that the complainant has or had a remedy by way of proceedings in a court if satisfied that in the particular circumstances it is not reasonable to expect him to take or to have taken such proceedings;
(ii) shall not in any case be precluded from conducting an investigation in respect of any matter by reason only that it is open to the complainant to apply to the High Court for redress under article 153(1) (which relates to redress for contraventions of provisions for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms).
… (Art. 192)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English
[The following] are attributions of the National Assembly:
...
9) To elect with sixty percent of the votes of the total of the Deputies of the National Assembly, from separate lists proposed for each office [cargo] by the President of the Republic and by the Deputies, in consultation with the pertinent civil organizations:
...
d) The Procurator and Sub-Procurator for the Defense of Human Rights;
... (Art. 138) - Spanish
Son atribuciones de la Asamblea Nacional:
...
9) Elegir con el sesenta por ciento de los votos del total de los Diputados de la Asamblea Nacional, de listas separadas propuestas para cada cargo por el Presidente de la República y por los Diputados, en consulta con las organizaciones civiles pertinentes:
...
d) Al Procurador y Subprocurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos.
... (Art. 138)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Procurator for the Defense of Human Rights and the Procurator General of the Republic, will have the following functions:
I. It corresponds to the Procurator for the Defense of Human Rights:
1) To see to the respect [for] and guarantee of [the] human rights;
2) To investigate, of office[,] or through a complaint [denuncia] received, the cases of violations of human rights;
3) To assist [the] alleged [presuntas] victims of violations to human rights;
4) To promote judicial or administrative recourses for the protection of [the] human rights;
5) To monitor [vigilar] the situation of the persons deprived of [their] freedom. He will be notified of all the arrests [made] and will see [cuidara] that the legal limits of [the] administrative detention are respected;
6) To carry out inspections, where he deems necessary, in order to assure the respect for the human rights;
7) To supervise the acts of the public administration[,] as opposed to [frente] persons;
8) To promote reforms before the Organs of the State for the progress of [the] human rights;
9) To issue opinions concerning [the] Bills of law that affect the exercise of the human rights;
10) To promote and propose the measures deemed necessary in order to prevent violations of the human rights;
11) To publicly or privately formulate conclusions and recommendations;
12) To prepare and publish reports;
13) To develop a permanent program of activities of promotion concerning the knowledge of[,] and respect for[,] [the] human rights;
14) The others that the Constitution or the law attribute to him.
The Procurator for the Defense of Human Rights may have departmental and local delegates of [a] permanent character.
II. It corresponds to the Procurator General of the Republic:
1) To see to the defense of the family and of the persons and interests of the minors and others [who are] incapable;
2) To provide legal assistance to the persons of limited economic resources, and to represent them judicially in the defense of their individual freedom and labor rights;
3) To appoint, remove, grant leaves of absence to, and accept the resignations of the Auxiliary Procurators of all the Tribunals of the Republic, of [the] Labor Procurators and of the other functionaries and employees of their dependency;
4) To exercise the other attributions that the law establishes. (Art. 194) - SpanishEl Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y el procurador General de la Republica, tendran las siguientes funciones:
I.- corresponde al Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos:
1º- velar por el respeto y la garantia a los derechos humanos;
2º- investigar, de oficio o por denuncia que hubiere recibido, casos de violaciones a los derechos humanos;
3º- asistir a las presuntas victimas de violaciones a los derechos humanos;
4º- promover recursos judiciales o administrativos para la protección de los derechos humanos;
5º- vigilar la situacion de las personas privadas de su libertad. Sera notificado de todo arresto y cuidara que sean respetados los limites legales de la detencion administrativa;
6º- practicar inspecciones, donde lo estime necesario, en orden a asegurar el respeto a los derechos humanos;
7º- supervisar la actuacion de la administracion publica frente a las personas;
8º- promover reformas ante los Organos del Estado para el progreso de los derechos humanos;
9º- emitir opiniones sobre proyectos de leyes que afecten el ejercicio de los derechos humanos;
10º- promover y proponer las medidas que estime necesarias en orden a prevenir violaciones a los derechos humanos;
11º- formular conclusiones y recomendaciones publica o privadamente;
12º- elaborar y publicar informes;
13º- desarrollar un programa permanente de actividades de promocion sobre el conocimiento y respeto de los derechos humanos;
14º- las demás que le atribuyan la constitucion o la ley.
El Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos podra tener delegados departamentales y locales de caracter permanente.
II.- Corresponde al Procurador General de la Republica:
1º- velar por la defensa de la familia y de las personas e intereses de los menores y demás incapaces;
2º- dar asistencia legal a las personas de escasos recursos económicos, y representarlas judicialmente en la defensa de su libertad individual y de sus derechos laborales;
3º- nombrar, remover, conceder licencias y aceptar renuncias a los Procuradores Auxiliares de todos los Tribunales de la Republica, a los procuradores de trabajo y a los demas funcionarios y empleados de su dependencia;
4º- ejercer las demas atribuciones que establezca la ley. (Art. 194)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Ombudsman is an independent authority created within the sphere of the National Congress operating with full autonomy and without receiving instructions from any other authority. The mission of the Ombudsman is the defense and protection of human rights and other rights, guarantees and interests sheltered under this Constitution and the laws, in the face of deeds, acts or omissions of the Administration; as well as the control of public administrative functions.
The Ombudsman has capacity to be a party in a lawsuit. He is appointed and removed by Congress with the vote of two-thirds of the members present of each House.
… (Sec. 86) - SpanishEl Defensor del Pueblo es un órgano independiente instituido en el ámbito del Congreso de la Nación, que actuará con plena autonomía funcional, sin recibir instrucciones de ninguna autoridad. Su misión es la defensa y protección de los derechos humanos y demás derechos, garantías e intereses tutelados en esta Constitución y las leyes, ante hechos, actos u omisiones de la Administración; y el control del ejercicio de las funciones administrativas públicas.
El Defensor del Pueblo tiene legitimación procesal. Es designado y removido por el Congreso con el voto de las dos terceras partes de miembros presentes de cada una de las Cámaras.
… (Art. 86)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishEach year, the Ombudswoman or Ombudsman shall report to the Pluri-National Legislative Assembly and to the Institution of Social Control on the situation of human rights in the country and the management of its administration. The Ombudswoman or Ombudsman may be summoned at any moment by the Pluri-National Legislative Assembly or by the Institution of Social Control, in order to provide a report on the exercise of its functions. (Art. 224)
- SpanishCada año, la Defensora o el Defensor del Pueblo informará a la Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional y al Control Social sobre la situación de los derechos humanos en el país y sobre la gestión de su administración. La Defensora o Defensor del Pueblo podrá ser convocada o convocado en cualquier momento por la Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional o el Control Social, para rendir informe respecto al ejercicio de sus funciones. (Art. 224)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English
...
The Defender of the People is elected and removed by the Congress with the vote of two-thirds of its legal number. He enjoys the same immunity and the same prerogatives as the Congressmen.
To be elected Defender of the People, it is required to have attained 35 years of age and to be an attorney.
The office [cargo] lasts five years and is not subject to an imperative mandate. He has the same incompatibilities as the Supreme Members [vocales supremos]. (Art. 161) - Spanish
...
El Defensor del Pueblo es elegido y removido por el Congreso con el voto de los dos tercios de su número legal. Goza de la misma inmunidad y de las mismas prerrogativas de los congresistas.
Para ser elegido Defensor del Pueblo se requiere haber cumplido treinta y cinco años de edad y ser abogado.
El cargo dura cinco años y no está sujeto a mandato imperativo. Tiene las mismas incompatibilidades que los vocales supremos. (Art. 161)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe People Defender’s Office is charged with the furtherance, defense and oversight of the rights and guarantees established under this Constitution and international treaties on human rights, in addition to defending the legitimate, collective and diffuse interest of the citizens.
The People Defender’s Office shall act under the direction and responsibility of the People Defender, who shall be designated to serve for a single seven-year term. The People Defender must be a Venezuelan national over the age of 30 years, with manifest and proven competence in the field of human rights, and must meet with such requirements as to honesty, ethics and morality as may be established by law. If the People Defender is temporarily or permanently unavailable to serve, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with applicable provisions of law. (Art. 280) - SpanishLa Defensoría del Pueblo tiene a su cargo la promoción, defensa y vigilancia de los derechos y garantías establecidos en esta Constitución y los tratados internacionales sobre derechos humanos, además de los intereses legítimos, colectivos y difusos, de los ciudadanos.
La Defensoría del Pueblo actuará bajo la dirección y responsabilidad del Defensor o Defensora del Pueblo, quien será designado o designada por un único período de siete años.
Para ser Defensor o Defensora del Pueblo se requiere ser venezolano o venezolana, mayor de treinta años, con manifiesta y demostrada competencia en materia de derechos humanos y cumplir con las exigencias de honorabilidad, ética y moral que establezca la ley. Las faltas absolutas y temporales del Defensor o Defensora del Pueblo serán cubiertas de acuerdo con lo dispuesto en la ley. (Art. 280)