Brazil’s Family Minister Abandons UN Council Meeting in Protest Against Venezuela

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, left the meeting room of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, in protest against Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela.

On Tuesday, Damares left the meeting as soon as the Venezuelan representative, Jorge Arreaza, began speaking. Itamaraty representatives accompanying the Minister also left the meeting.

The Minister had planned the protest. She walked into the room just minutes before the beginning of Arreaza’s speech and left the premises as soon as the Venezuelan representative began speaking. The Minister’s protest was filmed by her press office.

On Monday, Damares discussed Venezuela in a speech at the UN meeting. She said that Brazil has assisted over a million Venezuelan citizens who were seeking refuge due to the humanitarian crisis.

“We are particularly concerned about the hundreds of children who come unaccompanied to Brazil. They need a free and healthy life perspective, something that was violently snatched from them by Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate and authoritarian regime. I reiterate, with sadness, our concern over the persistent and grave human rights violations committed in Venezuela,” said the Minister.

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