Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk 2020

july - december VICTIMIZATION REPORT: OLD AGE AT RISK

Violent Deaths of Elderly Persons in Venezuela

«© Convite, A.C. [2020]. Reservados todos los derechos».

Este trabajo es parte del proyecto «Monitor de Salud», desarrollado por

Convite, A.C., y sus organizaciones aliadas con el apoyo financiero de la

Unión Europea. Su contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de Convite, A.C., y no necesariamente refleja los puntos de vista de la Unión Europea.

Credits To quote this report Thais Maingon.

REPORT ON VIOLENT DEATHS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN VENEZUELA (2020).

Convite, A.C. Caracas, Venezuela.

This report was prepared by the Research Coordination Unit of Convite, A.C.: Thais Maingon, in her capacity as senior researcher, under the supervision of Project Manager Francelia Ruiz, and in coordination with Luis Francisco Cabezas, Executive Director of Convite, A.C.

Design and layout: Mayrim Porras Cover photo by Curology on Unsplash.

VICTIMIZATION REPORT: OLD AGE AT RISK VIOLENT DEATHS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN VENEZUELA JULY-DECEMBER, 2020 Executive Summary Violence, and the various forms in which it is inflicted, is a public health issue of prime concern in Venezuela because of its economic, social, cultural, personal, and family implications, and, most importantly, because it is a violation of human rights, particularly of the right to life.

The continued assault on the rule of law in Venezuela for more than a decade now has converged, at least since 2015, with a complex humanitarian emergency of a political origin.

Multiple factors are at the root of the latter, with broad consequences such as the disinte-

gration of the State and of the economy, the sustained erosion of the well-being of society, and the violation of human rights. This crisis multiplies humanitarian needs and creates new

ones, exacerbates human insecurity problems, further deteriorates public services, and

undermines the system for the protection of human rights. It has an effect on the entire population, but its impact is much greater on the most vulnerable sectors, such as the elderly.

This report summarizes violations of the right to life and of the right to integrity of elderly

people during the second semester of the year 2020. The data used in the report were

collected and systematized from the News section of 67 national, regional, and local news web portals.

As many as one hundred and eighty-seven (187) violent deaths of older persons were recor-

ded between the months of July and December of 2020. Fifty-two percent (52%), or 97, of

said deaths, which is roughly more than half the total, were classified as violent deaths from specific causes (including deaths from mechanical asphyxiation, stabbing, gunshots, beatings, and others whose cause remains unknown), with robbery as the main motive. Most of

these deaths occurred in the victim's own home. Additionally, thirty-nine (39) violent deaths

#OldAgeAtRisk were the result of carelessness, negligence, or want of skill, experience, or knowledge, which

is twenty-one percent (21%) of the total violent deaths of older people recorded over the semester in question, and they were mostly caused by run-overs (20%). The responsibility for

seven percent (7%) of all violent deaths during the second semester of 2020 can be directly ascribed to the State, be it because of something it did, because of something it failed to do, or because something it permitted to be done –expressly or through others— which resulted

in the death of 13 elderly people. Other violent deaths, including suicide and various types of accidents, account for twenty percent (20%) of violent deaths of senior citizens.

COVID-19 related deaths were recorded separately and presented separately for the purposes hereof. However, based on the classification parameters used in victimization reports of

elderly people since 2019, they are related, directly or indirectly, to actions or omissions by the State and to the State’s failure to comply with its obligations and to protect the elderly from a violent death.

This is an important distinction to make because under numerous international conventions,

treaties and agreements, it is a bounden duty of the State to protect the life of all citizens,

2

particularly that of the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly. These deaths are the

embodiment of various types of violations of the right to life. They also underscore the State’s failure to provide the necessary means to prevent unnatural or early deaths, its inaction, and

the absence of public policies aimed at protecting the elderly from the threat of a premature death, for they are denied the possibility to receive timely medical or social assistance.

On March 13, the administration of Nicolas Maduro's announced that there were two confir-

med cases of COVID-19 in the country. Measures aimed at restricting mobility of the population at the national and international level were announced, much like in the vast majority of countries in the world. Simultaneously, the World Health Organization reported that, based

on the results of their analysis, it is the people aged 60 and older who most need preventive care and attention. The evidence could not be clearer. In Venezuela, people aged 60 or over,

or 4 million inhabitants as per official figures, are the most neglected and potentially more

vulnerable to the economic, social, and health crisis facing the country for over a decade now, a situation that is compounded by the high risk inherent in the COVID-19 pandemic

Keywords: Human Rights; Complex Humanitarian Emergency; Violent Deaths; COVID-19; the Elderly; Impunity; Homicides; Robbery; Negligence; Crisis; Public Policies.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

METHODOLOGY In our effort to keep a record of the number of violent deaths of elderly people occurred

during the second half of 2020, and in the absence of official figures on the subject, we resorted, as in previous reports, to reliable newspaper sources. The recording process invol-

ved three stages: first, the search itself; second, the recording and systematization of the

information in a database especially created for that purpose, which made it possible to

categorize and organize these records, and third, the presentation and analysis of the information.

The information contained in the News section of 67 national, regional, and local news web

portals was thoroughly examined. It is important to note that the violent deaths of elderly persons tend to be presented in the news in such a biased way that the human rights violation aspect thereof is usually overlooked, and the tendency is to report on this fact from a predominantly forensic approach.

The news on the violent death of elderly people that were selected for this report included

all the necessary information, namely the age, name, and gender of the victim, the cause of death and the motive, the federal entity where the death occurred, and the identity of the

perpetrators, when applicable, and the nationality. There were a few cases where the information available was not complete but where the details were sufficient to ascertain that an elderly person had had a violent death.

For the purposes of this report, the criterion set forth in the Compulsory Social Security Act

of 1967 was adopted to characterize the elderly population, which is defined as that segment of the population of men aged 60 and older, and of women aged 55 and older.

By violent death of an older person we mean the death of a woman aged 55 and older, and

of a man aged 60 and older, when his/her passing is the consequence of the overt violation

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

3

#OldAgeAtRisk of his/her right to live and enjoy other human rights. A violent death may or may not be the

result of a criminal act or the consequence of intentional acts or otherwise. Most violent deaths occur because the State does not guarantee the right to life, the right to property, or the right to a decent quality of life with access to food, medicine, services, and medical

care, which are indispensable for survival, especially for vulnerable populations such as the

elderly. These violent deaths could have been prevented. They expose the State’s negligence and its failure to fulfill its obligation to protect senior citizens from threats coming from individuals and/or public or private entities.

This is the same methodological and conceptual approach used to classify violent deaths

of older persons in the previous report (2019). This classification facilitates the differentiation

and analysis of violent deaths and the identification of the victims, the motives, the causes of death, and the perpetrators. It also makes it possible to bring these deaths to the fore-

front as violations of human rights, specifically of the rights to life, integrity, and property of the elderly.

The report consists of two parts. The first part discusses how the violent deaths of elderly

4

people occurred during the second half of 2020. It ends with a comparison of the most relevant indicators recorded between the two semesters of 2020. The second part includes the

official information reported by the Executive on the COVID-19 death toll. The information is

filtered and classified based on the age of the elderly person, as well as on the federal entity where the death occurred and the gender of the deceased.

Also recorded herein are the deaths of older people working in the healthcare sector as

published by some non-governmental organizations. One would assume that the number

of healthcare workers killed by COVID-19 would be accounted for in the official statistics that are communicated by the spokespersons of the Maduro administration publish on a daily basis. However, following a verification process and the crosschecking of the entire information, especially the one concerning the federal entity where the deaths occurred

and the age and gender of the deceased persons, it is clear that the official statistics do not show the deaths of a substantial number of health workers. It should be noted that the

information on elderly healthcare workers as used in this report was obtained from eight web portals, and only that meeting the minimum data requirements for presentation was taken into account.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

CLASSIFICATION OF VIOLENT DEATHS OF OLDER PERSONS There is a connection between the violent death of older persons and the performance of the State, for it is the duty and obligation of the State, as established in numerous interna-

tional agreements and conventions, to protect them, care for them, and provide them with material life conditions to avoid their premature exposure to the risk of death. The responsi-

bilities of the State in this area include guaranteeing older people their right to life and inte-

grity and their exercise of all other human rights. With the exception of some accidental deaths and other deaths from external causes, the violent deaths of older persons are

directly or indirectly associated with actions or omissions by the State. The fact that violence is inflicted against older people with the consent or acquiescence of governments or official authorities, whether directly or by inciting others, regularly or occasionally, the

immediate or eventual consequence of which is the unnatural or premature death of

senior citizens, reflects the State’s breach of its obligation to prevent violent deaths and evidences the lack of protection and guarantees of the elderly when it comes to their exercise of human rights, especially the right to life.

For the purposes of this report, we have set out certain criteria to differentiate the deaths of older people from various violent causes from those for which the State is responsible, explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly.

1. Violent Death from Specific Causes It is an act by one or more persons expressly intended to take the life of another, commonly referred to as murder. A number of murders occur as the indirect consequence of the failure of the State to comply with its duties and obligations. For the purposes of this report, the following are listed as causes of violent death from external causes: 1.1 1.1.

Mechanical Asphyxiation: It is the interference with the uptake and/or

delivery of oxygen, which generally leads to death. This category includes deaths caused by:

1.1.1. Strangulation: Oxygen is prevented from entering the airways through

compression of the neck by an external force, whether manually or by use of a ligature. It includes deaths that occur due to a broken neck.

1.1.2. Suffocation: Air passage to the airways is impeded by the blockage thereof.

1.1.3. Submersion: Air passage to the airways is impeded by a liquid or a semi-liquid substance.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

5

#OldAgeAtRisk 1.2. Wounds by Bladed Weapons: Murder is committed by use of sharp objects such

as a knife, a machete, an axe, etc. It includes deaths by throat-cutting, stabbing, etc.

1.3. Wounds by a Firearm: Death occurs by gunshots.

1.4. Beating: The person is beaten to death.

1.5. Unknown: SThere is no known cause for the death of the victim.

2. Violent Deaths Due to Carelessness, Negligence, or Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge It is any violent act against people whose purpose is not to take an individual’s life, but one which results in the death of said individual. Carelessness, negligence, or want of skill, experience, or knowledge, do not entail a desire to kill, but do not prevent death as an outcome.

These include:

2.1. Death by Aggravated Violence: An individual dies from natural causes that have

been made worse by a criminal act; death occurs upon the commission of the criminal act or some time thereafter, but it is always attributable thereto.

2.2. Death by Unintentional Run-over with a Motor Vehicle: An individual dies from injuries sustained during an accident involving a motor vehicle; the driver did not

6

intend to cause the death of the victim. As a rule, it is the result of recklessness, negligence, or carelessness of those involved.

2.3. Death by Provoked Accidents: An individual dies because of an incident that

occurs because of the action of another person or persons who did not intend to cause the death of the victim.

3. 3. Violent Deaths of which the State is Direct Responsible These are deaths whose cause clearly involves the clear action of state agents, as well as

the failure by the State to act appropriately to protect human rights, especially the right to life. The State is potentially responsible because it fails to protect lives in a timely and due manner.

3.1. Death from Starvation: These deaths occur when people cannot take in suffi-

cient food and nutrients or when people do not take in food and nutrients at all, due to shortages or for reasons of physical or financial inaccessibility.

3.2. Torture and Ill Treatment: These deaths are the direct or indirect consequence of physical and psychological violence inflicted by agents specially trained to do so in their official capacity.

3.3. Deaths Due to Lack of Assistance: These deaths that are caused by the lack of medical or paramedical care, or of the lack of access to healthcare services or medical supplies or medical technology, or of the lack of access to any of the services designed to ensure well-being, safeguard human life, and guarantee citizen safety. It includes all deaths caused by the lack of timely and quality assistance,

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

particularly to the homeless or to the dispossessed, and all deaths that are the

result of self-aggression (smoking, alcoholism, suicide) in a clear attempt by the

deceased to avoiding social, economic, political, or other situations that make life intolerable.

4. 4.Other Types of Violent Deaths 4.1. Suicide: It is a deliberate and voluntary act of self-aggression that results in the

death of the person who commits it, with no evidence of influence by external agents or by the person’s close family.

4.2. Accident: The elder dies due to external factors alone; he or she does not want to die, and there is no involvement of a third person or group of persons; the death is not the result of deficiencies in or lack of access to public services.

4.3. Otros: The death does not enter in any of the above categories.

7

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk

PART I

8

1. Aging as a Social Transformation Process and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic According to the World Bank’s World Population Ageing Report 2020, the pace at which the

world population is ageing is leading to one of the most significant social and cultural transformations of the 21st century, with substantial implications particularly for the labor and financial markets, the demand for goods and services, and the structure of families. It

is a fact that the world's population is aging. Globally, the population segment of people over 65 years of age is growing at a faster rate than the rest. By 2050, sixteen percent (16%) of the world population will be over 65 years old, as stated in the Economic Commission for

Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) World Population Prospects 2019 (2020) report.

This means that the number of people in their eighties will increase too. At present, fourteen

point five percent (14.5%) of older adults in Latin America and the Caribbean are aged 80 and over, and it is estimated that twenty-two percent (22%) of the total population will be that age by the year 2050.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit people 60 or over the hardest, not only because they are “older”, but also because they are the most vulnerable. This reality could be particularly challenging in the poorest and most unequal societies and in those that are subject

to authoritarian, despotic, and militarized political regimes whose health systems are highly inefficient and ineffective, as is the case in Venezuela.

The evidence shows that, since the beginning of the year 2020, the elderly —which is the most vulnerable age group— are the worst affected by the global pandemic due to their

decreased immunity and their higher probability of having a chronic disease. Should they

become infected with COVID-19, they are more susceptible to complications that can lead Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

to a certain death.

Today, the elderly in Venezuela are extremely fragile, not only because of the violence that is discussed herein and in previous reports, but also because the threat of dying from the coronavirus looms large over this segment of the population.

If we take the official figures provided so far by the regime to be true, Venezuela is a country that would seem to be “naturally” protected against COVID-19, but said protection could be explained by the increasing isolation that the country has been living in long before the coronavirus outbreak.

This report pays special attention to the deaths of elderly people due to COVID-19 because the virus is a factor that plays a crucial role, albeit circumstantially, in their health and well-being.

This pandemic has brought the weakness and poor performance of the Venezuelan health system, as well as that of many other countries in the region and elsewhere, to the fore. The

system, in the context of a national health emergency such as the COVID-19 emergency, has failed to respond effectively and efficiently to prevent deaths from this cause. Older

people are the largest group at the most risk of becoming infected with the virus and the age group with the highest fatality rate in the world because of it, and Venezuela is no exception.

2. 2. Violence and Old Age: Violent Deaths of Older People in Venezuela VIOLENT DEATHS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, JULY-DECEMBER, 2020 Specific Causes Carelessness, Negligence, Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge Direct Responsibility of the State Other Types of Violent Deaths TOTAL

97

39 13

38

187

As many as one hundred and eighty-seven (187) violent deaths of older persons were

recorded during the second semester of 2020. Fifty-two percent (52%) thereof were classified as violent deaths from specific causes, specifically from criminal acts, with robbery as the main motive.

Over this six-month period, thirty-nine (39) violent deaths were due to carelessness, negligence, or want of skill, experience, or knowledge, with run-overs as the leading cause at

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

9

#OldAgeAtRisk twenty percent (20%). Seven percent (7%) of all violent deaths were the direct responsibility of the State, whereas twenty percent (20%) were associated with other types of violence.

(See Chart 1)

In addition to the foregoing, 38 deaths were caused by other types of violence, including 28

involving various types of accidents (at work, motor vehicle, household, other), followed by suicide (10), which accounts for five percent (5%) of the total violent deaths of older people recorded over the period. According to the information collected, seven (7) older men and three (3) older women decided to take their own lives through violent means.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of the violent deaths were caused by different types of accidents and 29% by suicide (Figure 2). (See Chart 2)

Older women are less exposed to violent death than men are. As per the information

collected for the second semester of 2020, seventy-one percent (71%), or 132, of the violent

deaths recorded were of older men, while twenty-nine percent (29%), or 55, of the victims were older women. (See Chart 3)

10 CHART 1

Direct Responsibility of the State

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly,

by Cause of Death

July-December, 2020

7%

Otros

Specific Causes

13

20%

38 97

39

21%

52%

Carelessness, Negligence, Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

CHART 2

Other Types of Violent Deaths Among the Elderly

July-December, 2020

29%

Suicide Accidents

71%

11 CHART 3

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Gender July-December, 2020

Men Women

29% 71%

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk Sixty-one percent (61%), or 144, of the older people who died violently during the second half of the year 2020 were between 60 and 70 of age, followed by those aged between 71 and

80 (25%). Five percent (5%) of women between 55 and 59 of age, and nine percent (9%) of older people aged 81 and over, suffered a violent death. (See Chart 4) CHART 4

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Age Range July-December, 2020 (Percentages)

91 y+

1,07 8,02

81-90

24,60

71-80 60-70

60,96

55-59

5,35

0,00

10,00

20,00

30,00

40,00

50,00

60,00

70,00

12 In terms of gender, 118 men and 42 women between the ages of 60 and 80 died violently.

(See Chart 5)

Most of the violent deaths of older persons recorded were of Venezuelan nationals (180).

There were two (2) violent deaths of older persons of Colombian nationality and five (5) deaths of people of five nationalities other than Venezuelan and Colombian (see Chart 6) CHART 5

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Gender and Age Range July-December, 2020 (Percentages)

140 Mujeres

120

Hombres

100 80

65,15

60 40 50,91

20 0

18,18 55-59

60-70

24,24 25,45

9,09 5,5

71-80

81-90

1,52 91 y +

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

ND

2.1. Identification of Perpetrators in Violent Deaths of Older People The perpetrators of violent deaths of older people were identified, captured, and charged

only in twenty-two percent (22%), or 41, of all reported cases. Thirty-five (35) of the people responsible for said crimes had some connection, relationship, or direct kinship with the victims. It should be noted that the vast majority of homicides goes unpunished, which aggravates violence and violates the right to justice for the families of the victims.

Among the perpetrators who had some type of direct relationship or kinship with the victims, twenty-six percent (26%) were neighbors, friends, and acquaintances; twenty-three percent

(23%) were the victim’s children; twenty percent (20%) were the victim’s grandchildren; seventeen percent (17%) were the victim’s siblings, nephews and nieces and other family members; and fourteen percent (14%) were the victims’ domestic partners and spouses. (See Chart 7)

In eight (8) of the violent death cases referred to above, the victims were killed by their own

children, and in seven (7) cases, by their grandchildren. Six (6) of the violent acts were perpetrated by siblings, nephews or nieces, and other relatives. In nine (9) of the cases, the perpetrators

were neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, and in five (5) of the cases the perpetrators were the spouses or partners of the victim. The main motive was robbery, and other crimes were committed during an argument or a fight. These violent deaths underscore the deterioration of

the family and social fabric and the coexistence problems, which are exacerbated in the con-

text of a major economic crisis and hardship and are made even worse during the mandated quarantine that families have to observe to prevent becoming infected with COVID-19.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

13

#OldAgeAtRisk CHART 7

Perpetrators of Violent Crimes Against the Elderly,

and Their Relationship with their Victims. July-December, 2020 (Percentage of Total Perpetrators Known to the Victims)

50 40 30

25,7 22,9

20

20,0

17,1 14,3

10 0 Son/Daughter

14

Grandchild

Spouse/Partner

Sibling/Nephew, Neighbors, Niece/ Other Relatives Friends and Acquaintances

Angélica María González Castro, 67 years old, was killed by her 35-year-old daughter and her daughter’s partner, who wanted her to sell a house and an apartment, which she refused. Her daughter and her partner asphyxiated her, skinned her face with a knife, and cut off her tongue. (Últimas Noticias, 14 de julio de 2020).

Magaly Josefina, 71, was killed in her own house in Urimare by her 15 year-old grandson, who stuck the tip of a construction pick in one of her eyes while to rob her.

(El Nacional, octubre 7 de 2020).

Víctor Manuel Useche González, 60, a farmer, was stabbed to death by his wife, Migdalia Milagros Ortega Urbina, 52, following a fight inside their house. In the heat of an argument, Migdalia stabbed her spouse three times in the chest, which caused his death.

(Diario La Calle,1 de diciembre de 2020).

Cruz Manuel Quijada, 74, and his wife María Luisa Jiménez de Quijada, 56, were killed by their nephew and his partner, who wanted to steal a blender, a hair dryer, and a gas cylinder from them at Cruz and María´s house in the town of Araya, state of Sucre.

(El Universal, 17 de septiembre de 2020).

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

The Report on Femicides prepared by the Center for Justice and Peace (CEPAZ, by its Spanish acronym) for the June 14 - November 13, 2020 period, reveals that the oldest age of

the victims of femicide went from 70 to 80. The contempt for older people and their vulnerability is evident from the report. Over the period in question, twelve percent (12%) of

the victims were between 64 and 80 years of age, and approximately fifty percent (50%) of

them were living or had lived with their aggressors or were their relatives or acquaintances.

Most of these femicides occurred at the victims’ houses or at the house of their partners.

These women sustained firearm wounds that killed them, or were stabbed, strangled, or beaten to death.

(https://cepaz.org/documentos_informes/monitoreo-de-femicidios-del-14-de-junio-al13-de-noviembre-de-2020/ https://www.proiuris.org/?p=62415 utopix)

As previously noted, most of these older women were living or had lived with their

aggressors. In other cases, the perpetrators were family members (parents, uncles/aunts, siblings, children, grandchildren).

2.2. Violent Deaths of Elderly People from Specific Causes The most frequent causes of violent deaths from specific causes reported over this period include:

Run-overs: Thirty-seven (37) elderly people were run over, which is twenty percent (20%) of all violent deaths.

Accidents (motor-vehicle, household, job-related, and other): Fifteen percent (15%)

of all violent deaths (28) were the result of accidents. It should be noted that four (4) of the victims died in motor-vehicle/road accidents, and two (2) in accidents at the

workplace. Fourteen (14) senior citizens died as a consequence of a fall they sustai-

ned while looking for firewood to cook. Others died by electrocution while repairing household appliances, or when handling containers with gasoline or cooking gas.

Firearms: Nineteen (19) senior citizens (10%) died from gunshot wounds.

Lack of assistance: Thirteen (13) senior citizens (7%) died from causes directly attri-

butable to the State, for it failed to provide them with timely healthcare or social

assistance. These people died because of lack of medicines, medical supplies,

medical care, security, or because of deficiencies in public services, among other causes.

Stabbing: Twenty-nine (29) senior citizens (16%) died from some kind of blunt wound made by sharp objects.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

15

#OldAgeAtRisk Mechanical asphyxiation: Eighteen (18) senior citizens (10%) died from strangulation by others during a robbery or a fight.

Beatings: Twelve (12) of the deaths (23%) were caused by severe beatings in the middle of a robbery.

Suicide: Ten (10) senior citizens (5%) intentionally took their own lives.

The director of the Venezuelan Violence Observatory, Roberto Briceño León, during the presentation of the "Annual Report on Violence in Venezuela 2020: Between the Epidemic of Violence and the COVID-19 Pandemic," noted that the destruction of the economy has

reduced the opportunities for crime and that organized crime has concentrated on sectors

with access to foreign currency. One is that of families with relatives living outside the country, who were forced to leave the country or were expelled by the country because it denied

them opportunities for economic, social, and personal development. This is another issue facing the elderly who depend on remittances or assistance from their relatives abroad. On

the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns may have to do

16

with this reduction of opportunities for crime.

The report indicates that in 2020 there was a reduction in the number of deaths from violent

causes as compared against those occurred during 2019. There were a total of 11,891 violent deaths, or forty-five point six percent (45.6%) per 100,000 inhabitants 1. Even so, the rate is

well above the one reported for the most violent countries in the world. Venezuela continues to be one of the most violent countries in the region and globally.

According to the report, ninety-one percent (91%) of the victims were men and ninety-nine

percent (99%) were Venezuelans; the use of bladed weapons increased by fourteen percent (14%); the number of deaths from firearm wounds 2 showed a decrease; the most

violent months were January and May; and the most violent states were Miranda, Bolivar, Sucre, Aragua and the Metropolitan Area of Caracas.

1

The rate of violent deaths recorded for 2019 by the Venezuelan Violence Observatory was 60.3% per 100,000

inhabitants.

2

In 2019, 65 senior citizens were shot to death (Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths of Older Persons

in Venezuela, 2019), and 42 in 2020, (23 during the first semester and 19 during the second semester) (Victimization Report. Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths of Older Persons in Venezuela, First Semester of 2020).

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

CHART 8

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Specific Cause July-December, 2020 1

Provoked Accidents Aggravated Murder

2

8

Unknown Suicide Death Due to Lack of Assistance

10

13

18

Mechanical Asphixiation Firearm

19

Beating

23

27

Accident Stabbing

29

37

Run-over 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

17

35

CHART 9

Number and Percentage of Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Motive July-December, 2020

60

30

54

50

25

40

20

30

55,9

15 15

20 10

15,5

0 Robbery

Fight

10

14

14,4 Score Settling/ Retribution

10 1

1

Kidnapping

3

3,1

10,3

Sicariato

Unknown

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

5 0

#OldAgeAtRisk 2.3 Violent Deaths of Elderly People, by Motive As shown in Chart 9, fifty-five (54) older people, which is fifty-six percent (56%) of all violent

deaths reported for the second semester of 2020, were killed while being robbed, most of them in their own homes. Fifteen (15) older people were killed during a fight, and fourteen

(14) were killed for score settling or retribution. There was no known motive for ten percent (10%) of the violent deaths. (See Chart 9)

Marcos Tulio González Valera, 64, died of a traumatic brain injury after criminals beat him to steal his car in Santa Rosa, east of Barquisimeto. (La Prensa Lara. 7 de julio de 2020).

Three criminals, one of them just 16 years old, killed Saúl Antonio Martínez Villa, 69, a Colombian national, when they broke into his house in Maracaibo. They tied him up, stole

18

his belongings, and shot him several times. He died at the site.

(Panorama, 19 de agosto de 2020).

On Monday, Valentín Rodríguez Camacaro, 77, was shot in the mouth and killed in Barquisimeto by armed subjects who were stealing his bicycle, which he resisted.

(El Informador, 21 de septiembre de 2020)

Andres Jose Rivas Orta, 62, died from the injuries he sustained during a fight with Luis Gabriel Garcia Millan, 42, in Maiquetia. Rivas and García were drinking. A quarrel broke out between them and they both drew their bladed weapons.

(La Voz, 24 de septiembre de 2020).

The plastic artist Antonio Otazzo, 90, was found dead inside his house in Cagua, state of Aragua. A man and a woman who looked like beggars knocked on his door pretending to ask for food and attacked him with a knife. (Efecto Cocuyo, 17 de julio de 2020).

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

2.4 Violent Deaths of Older People, by Federal Entity Only in four federal entities (Amazonas, Apure, Cojedes, and Yaracuy) no records were found of violent deaths of older people during the second half of 2020. Thirty-six percent

(36%) of all the violent deaths of older people reported for the second semester of 2020

occurred in the states of Aragua (20), Anzoátegui (25), and Lara (23), followed by the Metropolitan Area of Caracas and Miranda (17 violent deaths each), Bolívar (12), and Carabobo, Zulia, and Táchira (11 each) for a total of forty-two percent (42%) of the violent deaths.

Eleven percent (11%) of the violent deaths of older people occurred in three states: Falcón CHART 10

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Federal Entity July-December, 2020

11

Zulia

7

Vargas

3

Trujillo

11

Táchira Sucre

2

Portuguesa

3

2

Nueva Esparta

19

4

Monagas

17

Miranda

1

Mérida

23

Lara

6

Guárico Falcón

2

Delta Amacuro

8 11

Carbobo Bolívar

2

Barinas

12 20

Aragua

25

Anzoátegui

17

MAC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk (8), Vargas (7), and Guárico (6). Ten percent (10%) of the total violent deaths occurred in eight of the country’s states, with figures ranging from four (4) violent deaths in Monagas to

one (1) violent death in Mérida, which is the federal entity with the lowest record of occurrences. (See Chart 10)

2.5. Violent Deaths of Older People that are the Direct Responsibility of the State, by Federal Entity As previously discussed, violent deaths of older people were classified into four catego-

ries: Deaths from Specific Causes; Deaths Due to Carelessness, Negligence, or Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge; Deaths that are the Direct Responsibility of the State (Star-

vation, Torture and Ill Treatment, and Lack of Assistance), and Other Types (Suicide and Accidents). There is a tendency to consider that violent deaths from specific causes, such as those caused by carelessness, negligence, or want of skill, experience, or knowledge,

are the result of violence among individuals and that, consequently, the State is not to be

20

ascribed any responsibility therefor. However, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has established that “everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of the person; the

right to life is inherent in the human person, everyone’s right to life shall be protected by

law, and no one should be deprived arbitrarily of his/her life. Furthermore, the States Parties undertake to respect and guarantee the full exercise of these rights to all persons subject to their jurisdiction.” (https://www.derechoshumanos.net/proteccion/index.htm).

During the second semester of 2020, thirteen (13) of the violent deaths recorded were the direct responsibility of the State, including those from lack of assistance and essential

supplies, and those involving the direct action of security forces of the Venezuelan State.

The Venezuelan State failed to guarantee the right to life to many of the elderly who suc-

cumbed to the circumstances in question. Most deaths were caused either by deficiencies in public services such as water, electric power, and gas, or by deficiencies in the health care system.

Violent deaths where the State is directly responsible are those that occur because of the

action, inaction, omissions, or consent or acquiescence, directly or by inciting others, of governments or official authorities, the immediate or eventual consequence of which is the premature death of elderly citizens. These deaths underscore the various violations of the right to life and other human rights that are universally guaranteed, for the State failed to meet its obligation to preserve and protect the lives of the elderly when faced

with the risk of dying unnaturally or prematurely. Quite the opposite: the elderly were

denied and deprived by the State of means of protection, which led to their unnatural or premature death.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

As seen in Chart 11, the violent deaths for which the State is directly responsible occurred

in nine (9) federal entities. The Metropolitan Area of Caracas is the one with the most violent deaths attributable to this cause (4), followed by Anzoátegui, Lara, and Miranda, with two (2) cases each, and the remaining federal entities with one (1) case each.

CHART 11

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly where the State has a Direct Responsibility,

by Federal Entity. July-December, 2020 5 4

2

2 1

1

1

2

1

1

21 Táchira

Miranda

Lara

Carabobo

Barinas

Bolívar

Aragua

Anzoátegui

MAC

0

In Venezuela, the elderly’s rights to life, integrity, health, food, and security are consistently

violated. The State does not guarantee older people their exercise of said human rights, and

the limitations and health complications characteristic of old age amplify the risks of premature death. The lingering complex humanitarian emergency is compounded with hyperinfla-

tion and spiking food and medicine prices, which makes access thereto difficult for senior citizens. Treatment for chronic diseases and other ailments typical of old age is very costly for the vast majority of older persons3.

The State's lack of interest in implementing policies for the care, preventive assistance, and protection of the older population makes them an easy prey to crime, with criminals acting

with total impunity under the cold stare of a State that seems not to have concerns about the lives of its citizens.

3

See the 2020 issues of the Convite A.C. Monitoring Access to Health in Venezuela publication.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk

José Antonio Rojas Aular, 66, who worked as a driver for the public transportation company Unión El Limón, died of a heart attack. He was waiting in line to fill up the unit's diesel tank in order to continue to drive users to their destination. Mr. Rojas Aular had arrived at 5:00 a.m. at a service station located at the Maracay Passenger Terminal, which had been cleared for the public sector transportation providers to refuel their units.

(El Periodiquito,4 de octubre de 2020).

Nurse Hilda Lameda, 61, was bitten by a snake in the tiny village of Pico e' Gallo in the municipality of Torres, state of Lara, on the night of October 2. She passed away in the early hours of October 3 because there was no ambulance available, or fuel, to transfer

22

her to the Pastor Oropeza Riera Hospital in Carora.

(Reporte Confidencial, 3 de octubre de 2020).

Henry Tineo, a retired employee of of CVG ALCASA, in Puerto Ordaz, state of Bolívar, died of a heart attack while in a line for gasoline. Tineo was part of a group of people who had been waiting for several days to purchase the 20 liters of gasoline that the service stations of the state are allowed to sell to customers.

(Nueva Prensa de Guayana, 12 de octubre de 2020).

On Monday, siblings Silvia Margarita Sandoval Armas, 72, and Rafael David Sandoval Armas, 73, were found dead at their home in Caracas, their bodies decomposing. They died of causes associated with malnutrition. The neighbors used to provide them with food, given that Silvia only received a pension of 400,000 bolivars.

(El Nacional 30 de octubre de 2020).

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

2.1. Violent Deaths of Older People by Month of Occurrence October was the month with the highest number of violent deaths of older people. Thirty-seven (37) senior citizens died violently over that month. The months of July, with thirty-six (36) deaths, and that of November, with thirty-four (34), come next. The month

with the lowest number of deaths was August, with twenty-five (25) violent deaths. (See Chart 12).

CHART 12

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly, by Month of Occurrence July-December, 2020

28

December

34

November

37

October

23

27

September

25

August

36

July 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2. 3. Violent Deaths of Older People: A Comparison Between the Two Semesters of the Year 2020 VIOLENT DEATHS AMONG THE ELDERLY, 2020 Causas específicas Carelessness, Negligence, Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge

Direct Responsibility of the State Other Types of Violent Deaths TOTAL

jan - jun

jul - dec

TOTAL

31

38

69

40

39

81

33

185

97 13

187

178 46 79

372

A total of three hundred and seventy-two (372) violent deaths of elderly people were recorded in 2020. Forty-four percent (44%) of said deaths occurred during the first semester of

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk the year, whereas fifty-two percent (52%) did over the second semester. According to the

classification parameters used in this report, the types of violent deaths follow a general

similar trend during the two six-month periods in question. The number of elderly persons who died violently for reasons that are directly attributable to the State differ substantially

from one semester to the other. This is due to the fact that a database was created for the second semester that contains the official number of COVID-19-related deaths in senior

citizens, which is presented in the second part of this report. On the other hand, there are no major variations between the two semesters as far as the number of deaths due to accidents and suicides is concerned. (See Chart 13 and Chart 14)

Women are less the object of violent death than men are. Based on the information collec-

ted, seventy-four percent (74%), or 275, of all violent deaths were the result of violence perpetrated against older adult men, while twenty-six percent (26%), or 97, were from

violence perpetrated against women. There are no significant differences between the two semesters. (See Chart 15)

Eighty-six percent (86%), or 319, of the elderly persons who died violently in 2020 were aged

24

between 60 and 80. Sixty-two percent (62%), or 229, of the latter were in the 60-70 CHART 13

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020,

by Cause of Death (Percentages)

21,6

Other

20,3 17,8

Direct Responsibility of the State

7,0 16,8

Carelessness, Negligence, Want of Skill, Experience, or Knowledge

20,9 43,8

Specific Causes

51,9 0

10

January-June

20

30

40

50

July-December

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

60

age bracket, while twenty-four percent (24%), or 90, were in the 70-80 age group. Additio-

nally, five point four percent (5.4%), or 20, women between the ages of 55 and 59 died violently in the year aforesaid. (see Chart 16)

El 86% (319) de las personas mayores que perdieron su vida en forma violenta durante el año 2020, tenían entre 60 y 80 años. De entre éstos, 229 (62%) de las personas mayores fallecidas, se encontraban en el rango de edad comprendido entre 60 y 70 años y 90 personas entre 70 y 80 años (24%). Además, hubo 20 mujeres entre 55 y 59 años (5,4%) que perdieron la vida de forma violenta (V. Gráfico 16).

CHART 14

Other Types of Violent Deaths (Percentages)

65,0

Accidents

73,7

35

Suicides

26,3 0

10 January - June

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

July - December

Chart 17 shows the changes in the percentage of violent deaths between the first half and the second half of 2020. During the first semester of the year, there were twenty-six (26)

deaths where the perpetrators had some relationship or direct kinship with the victims. In the second semester, there were thirty-five (35) violent deaths. The number of victims killed

by neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and partners during the first semester almost doubled that of the second semester. Nevertheless, a higher number of violent deaths was

recorded during the second semester where the perpetrators were the victim’s grandchildren (7) and children (8).

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

25

#OldAgeAtRisk CHART 15

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020, by Gender (Percentages)

80 70

77,8

60

70,6 42,9

50 40 30 20

22,2

10

26

29,4

0 MEN

WOMEN

January - June

CHART 16

July - December

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020,

by Age Range and Gender (Percentages)

80

67,8

70

65,2

60

50,9

50

42,9

40 30 20

23,8

26,2

7,1

10 0

25,5

23,1

24,2

18,2 5,5

7,0 0,0

WOMER

0,0 MEN

JANUARY - JUNE

55 - 59

9,1

WOMEN JULY - DECEMBER

60 - 70

71 - 80

81 - 90

91 Y +

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

MEN

CHART 17

Perpetrators of Violent Crimes Against the Elderly in 2020,

by Their Relationship with the Deceased (Percentages) 1

Neighbors, Friends and Acquaintances

46,2

25,5 11,5

Sibling/Nephew, Niece/ Other Relatives

17,1 23,1

Spouse/Partner

14,3 Grandchild

7,7

20 11,5

Son/Daughter

0

5

22,9

10

15

20

January-June

25

30

35

40

45

50

July-December

CHART 18

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020 Due to Specific Causes (Percentages) 14,1

Run-overs

19,79

14,1 14,4

Accident Armas de fuego

10,2

Death due to Lack of Assistance

12,4 17,8

7,0 15,7 15,5

Stabbing 5,9

Mechanical Asphixiation

6,5

Beating Suicide

5,3 0,5 0,5

Provoked Accidents

3,2

Unknown Aggravated Murder

1,1

12,3 7,6

4,3

2,2

0

5 January-June

10

15

20

July-December

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

27

#OldAgeAtRisk The violent deaths of elderly people due to specific causes along the two semesters of 2020 showed the same trend overall. There were changes only in two categories: those that are the direct responsibility of the State, mostly from COVID-19, which were recorded separately

for the second half of 2020, and those caused by beatings. During the first semester of the year, there were twelve (12) violent deaths caused by beating, whereas during the second semester, that number almost doubled, with twenty-three (23) deaths. (See Chart 18)

As shown in Chart 19, fifty-seven percent (57%), or 103, of elderly people were killed during a

robbery. The number of deaths due to this cause over the second semester almost doubled that of the first semester. The same applies to the other violent deaths from various motives.

CHART 19

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020, by Motive (Percentages)

28

60

55,9

50 40 30

27,8

20

14,4

15,5 8,5

10

4,5

1,0 0,6

0 Robbery

January-June

Fight

Score Settling or Retribution

Kidnapping

5,1 0

10,3

3,1

Hired Killings

Unknown

July-December

Chart 20 depicts changes in this type of violent deaths in the various federal entities

between the first and second semester of the year 2020. The most significant variations are

those recorded for the states of Anzoátegui, Lara, and Táchira. Over the second semester of

2020, the number of violent deaths recorded for these states doubled as compared against that recorded during the first semester of that year. In two of the states, namely

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

Trujillo and Zulia, more deaths occurred from the causes in question during the second semester than during the first one. The rest of the federal entities show a similar trend along both semesters. (See Chart 20).

CHART 20

Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in 2020, by Federal Entity (Percentages)

Zulia 7 7

Vargas Trujillo

3

Sucre

2

Portuguesa

2 2

11

3

2 2

Nueva Esparta

13

5

Táchira

Monagas

29

6

4

12

Miranda 1

Mérida

3

1

6

Falcón Delta Amacuro

2 2

Cojedes Carbobo Bolívar

11

6

2

23

10

8

3

0

17

12

Lara Guárico

19

11

13

Barinas

20

Aragua

0

1 8

Anzoátegui AMC

17 0

24

5

January-June

10

15

25

19 20

25

30

July-December

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk

PART II 1. 1. COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly July-December, 2020 The death of older persons from COVID-19 or related causes during the second semester of the year 2020, as well as the death of elderly health care workers for reasons associated with the coronavirus, are addressed herein separately from those discussed in previous

sections. There State has played a direct or indirect role in said deaths because of its actions or omissions, including its failure to comply with its obligations as regards the heal-

thcare system to prevent the premature death of senior citizens from COVID-19. The State is responsible for those deaths.

In this report, we have treated separately COVID-19 deaths because, on the one hand, the

coronavirus is now a global pandemic and, on the other hand, we needed to arrive at the

approximate number of COVID-19 deaths by gender, age brackets, and federal entities over the period.

For the purposes of this report, as mentioned in the methodology section, the information used in systematizing and presenting COVID-19 deaths in elderly people was obtained from

the official reports published daily in the press, mainly in Últimas Noticias, El Nacional, El

Universal, Tal Cual and Efecto Cocuyo. The official spokespersons for the Executive were the members of the Presidential Commission for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Ñáñez, and President Nicolás Maduro. These official reports do not necessarily include information on

the number of COVID-19 deaths among healthcare workers. The official information was contrasted with that published by the news outlets and by Médicos Unidos de Venezuela [Venezuela Doctors United], a NGO with more than 4,000 healthcare workers throughout the Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

country, and with research work specifically on COVID-19 deaths in the healthcare sector.

This approach made it possible for us to collect information on the name, gender, age, and federal entity of residence of the senior citizens who died because of the coronavirus, as

reported, and build a database with approximate cross-referenced information on the number of deaths of elderly persons from COVID-19 in the healthcare sector vs. the number reported by the Executive on a daily basis.

According to official data, from March 2020, with marks the beginnings of the pandemic in

Venezuela, to December 31, 2020, there were 1,028 COVID-19 deaths and 113,558 COVID-19

people infected with the virus. Of the total number of people who contracted the disease,

107,583 (95%) have recovered, 4,947 are active cases, 2,917 are being treated in hospitals, 1,715 are being treated in Comprehensive Diagnostic Centers (CDI, by its Spanish acronym), 299 are in home isolation, and 16 are being treated in private clinics (Efecto Cocuyo, 31-12-2020)4.

1.1. COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly As per the information obtained from official channels, a total of 539 senior citizens died

from COVID-19 during the second half of 2020. Forty-four point five percent (40.5%), or 218, were elderly women, and sixty percent (60%), or 321, were elderly men. (See Chart 21).

CHART 21

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly

by Gender

July-December, 2020

40,45%

Women Men

4

59,55%

Efecto Cocuyo: Coronavirus: Venezuela Closes 2020 with 1,028 Deaths and 113,558 People Infected with COVID-19,

December 31, 2020.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

31

#OldAgeAtRisk Forty-seven percent (47%), or 255, of the elderly people who died from COVID-19 in the

second half of 2020 were between ages of 60 and 70, followed by those aged between 71 and 80 (33%), and those aged 81 and over (16%). There were 9% of women between the ages of 55 and 59 who died from COVID-19. (See Chart 22).

According to the official information from the Executive, all federal entities recorded elderly

deaths from COVID-19 or from causes associated therewith. Sixty-six percent (66%), or 358, of the total COVID-19 deaths of older people recorded for the second semester of 2020

occurred in seven federal entities, with between 67 and 36 victims: Táchira (67), Apure (56),

Mérida (54), Miranda (51), Zulia (50), the Metropolitan Area of Caracas (44) and Lara (36), followed by seven states with with between 25 and 7 victims and twenty-five percent (25%),

or 135, of the deaths, and by ten federal states with between 7 and 1 senior citizens who fell victim to the disease and nine percent (9%), or 46 of the total deaths, (See Chart 23).

32

CHART 22

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly, by Age Range and Gender july-december 2020 100 90 80

9,17

53,89

33,33

12,15

0,62

37,61

33,49

19,27

0,46

60 - 70

71 - 80

81 - 90

91 y +

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 %

55 - 59

Women

Men

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

CHART 23

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly, by Federal Entity July-December, 2020

Zulia

4

Vargas Trujillo

50

20

Yaracuy

7

67

Táchira

25

Sucre

2

Portuguesa

13

Nueva Esparta

4

Monagas

51

Miranda Mérida

36

Lara

6

Guárico Falcón Delta Amacuro

1

Cojedes

2

7

17

7

Barinas

56

Apure Aragua Anzoátegui

16

Amazonas

19

25

44

AMC

0

54

6

Carbobo Bolívar

33

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk 1.2 COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly in the Healthcare Sector The number of deaths of elderly people from COVID-19 as presented herein is an approxi-

mate number. The information used in preparing this report was obtained from the

research work of the NGO Médicos Unidos de Venezuela [Venezuela Doctors United] and from that published in the Efecto Cocuyo website, whose figures do not always match. For example, Efecto Cocuyo notes that it has been able to confirm the death of 245 health professionals from the beginning of the pandemic until December 31, 2020, with the state of

Zulia being the most affected federal entity. (Efecto Cocuyo, December 31, 2020). However, Médicos Unidos de Venezuela reports as many as 294 health workers dead from COVID-19 over the same period.

With thirty point thirty-one percent (30.31%) of the total deaths of healthcare workers from

COVID-19 in the American continent, Venezuela was, until August 31, the country with the highest number of deaths in this group. While the Maduro administration had reported

three hundred and eighty-six (386) COVID-19 deaths by August 31, 2020, Médicos Unidos de Venezuela reported and additional 117 deaths of patients with clinical symptoms suggestive

34

of the disease.

CHART 24

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly in the Healthcare Sector by Gender July-December, 2020

33,80%

Women Men

66,20%

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

During the second half of 2020, a total of 71 elderly healthcare workers died from COVID-19, as reported. Thirty-four percent (34%), or 24, were women over 55 years of age, and sixty-six percent (66%), or 47, were men aged 60 and over. (See Chart 24).

Sixty-six percent (66%), or 47, of the elderly healthcare workers who died from COVID-19 in the second half of 2020 were between 60 and 70 years of age, followed by those aged between 71 and 80 (18%). Six women between the ages of 55 and 59 died from COVID-19 in this group. (See Chart 25).

Zulia stands out as the federal entity with the most deaths of healthcare workers from

COVID-19, with 23 deaths, or thirty-two percent (32%) of the total COVID-19 deaths. Forty-two percent (42%) of COVID-19 deaths in the healthcare sector occurred in six (6) federal enti-

ties, including the Metropolitan Area of Caracas: MAC (7), Táchira (6), Bolívar (5), and Anzoátegui, Carabobo, and Barinas with four deaths each. Sixteen percent (16%) of

COVID-19 deaths in the sector occurred in five (5) states: Guárico (3), and Mérida, Monagas, Portuguesa, and Aragua, with two (2) deaths each. On the other hand, there were seven (7) states, or ten percent (10%) of the total, with one (1) death each. (See Chart 26).

CHART 25

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly in the Healthcare Sector,

by Age Range and Gender. July-December, 2020 68,09

62,50 25

21,28

14,4

55 - 59

Women

60 - 70

71 - 80

8,51 0 81 - 90

2,13 0 91 y +

Men

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

35

#OldAgeAtRisk CHART 26

COVID-19 Deaths Among the Elderly in the Healthcare Sector

by Federal Entity

July-December, 2020

Zulia

23

1 1

Vargas Trujillo

6

Táchira

1

Sucre Portuguesa

1

Nueva Esparta Monagas

1

Miranda

36

Mérida

1

Lara

2 2 2 3

Guárico

1

Falcón

4

Carbobo Bolívar Barinas

2

Aragua Anzoátegui

5

4 4

7

MAC

0

5

10

15

20

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

25

References Center for Justice and Peace (CEPAZ) 2020: Monitoring Femicides in Venezuela: June 14 – November 13, 2020.

ECLAC 2020: The Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) World Population Prospects 2019. UN Methodology for Population Estimates and Projections. Population and Development Series, 132. Santiago de Chile. https://repositorio.cepal.org/bitstream/hand-

le/11362/45989/S2000384_es.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Convite A.C: Monitoring Access to Health in Venezuela, 2020. Newsletters.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

https://www.derechoshumanos.net/proteccion/index.htm).

Fermín, Yeannaly: Runrunes.es, April 5, 2020.

Global Health Security Index 2019.

Jeanfreddy Gutiérrez: “Seventy-Seven Percent of COVID-19 Deaths in Venezuela are of People Younger than 69.” Efecto Cocuyo, June 9, 2020.

Venezuelan Violence Observatory, 2020: Annual Report on Violence in Venezuela, 2020.

Between the COVID-19 Epidemic and Violence. Caracas.

https://observatoriodeviolencia.org.ve/informes/informe-anual-de-violencia/ Olivieri, María Laura, 2020: COVID-19 and the Elderly: Measures Taken in the Region. News from Latin America and the Caribbean (NODAL). May 29, 2020.

Venezuela: Compulsory Social Security Act of 1967. 2008 Reform to the Compulsory Social Security Act of 1967.

Venezuela: Organic Law of the Integral Social Security System, 1997.

Utopix-Proiuris Monitoring Femicides in Venezuela World Population Ageing Highlights 2020

https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.deve-

lopment.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd-2020_world_population_ageing_highlights.pdf

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

37

#OldAgeAtRisk APPENDICES VENEZUELAN LEGISLATION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY Name

Coments

Venezuelan Constitution, 1999

Article 80. The State shall guarantee senior citizens the full

Articles 80 and 86.

exercise of their rights and guarantees. The State, with the joint participation of families and society, is under the obligation to respect their human dignity and autonomy, and shall guarantee them integral care and social security benefits that improve and ensure their quality of life. Pension and retirement benefits granted through the social security

38

system shall not be less than the urban minimum wage.

Senior citizens shall be guaranteed the right to work, should they express their desire and should they be able to do so.

Article 86. “All persons are entitled to Social Security as a nonprofit public service that guarantees health and ensures protection in the event of maternity, fatherhood, illness, invalidity, catastrophic illness, disability, special needs, occupational risks, loss of employment, unemployment, old age, widowhood, loss of parents, housing issues, burdens deriving from family life, and any other circumstances warrantying social welfare. The inability of persons to pay taxes shall not be ground for excluding them from protection by the system.

Social Security Act of 1991

They regulate the situations and legal relations concerning

Organic Law of the Social Security

the protection under the social security system.

System, 2002.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

Name

Coments

Law on Violence against Women and

It orders that penalties be increased by half if there is the

the Family, 1998. Section 21.

aggravating circumstance that a crime was committed against an older person.

Law on the Provision of Social Services

It defines and regulates the governance, organization, opera-

to the Elderly and Other Categories of

tion, financing, and determination of benefits, as well as the

Persons, 2005.

requirements for their provision, as created by the Organic Law of the Social Security System.

Decree-Law No. 8694 on the Creation of

It establishes that the beneficiaries of the “Gran Misión en

the “Amor Mayor Venezuela” Great

Amor Mayor Venezuela” are all elderly women who are 55

Mission

years of age or older, and elderly men who are 60 years of

December 9, 2011. (The Great Venezuelan

age or older, whether Venezuelans or aliens who have been

Mission for Love of the Elderly).

legal residents of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the last ten years.

Law on Food and Medicine Bonuses for

Its purpose is to supplement, through bonuses, the monthly

Pensioners and Retirees,

income of pensioners and retirees in the public and private

sanctioned by the National Assembly on

sectors as a means to protect their right to purchase food

March 30, 2016.

and medicines. It provides that pensions and retirement benefits granted through the social security system may not be less than the urban minimum wage and that the elderly shall be guaranteed the right to work, should they express their desire and are able to do so.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

39

#OldAgeAtRisk MAIN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON THE PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY Name

Coments

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

It recognizes the right to social benefits in old age.

United Nations, 1948.

The International Covenant on Economic,

It recognizes the right of all persons to social security,

Social and Cultural Rights. Resolution 2200 A

including social insurance.

(XXI), United Nations, 16 December 1966, which

40

came into force on January 3, 1976.

The Convention on the Elimination of All

It expressly prohibits age as a reason for discrimina-

Forms of Discrimination against Women.

tion and outlaws discrimination in access to social

United Nations, 1979. It came into force in 1981.

security in old age.

The Vienna International Plan of Action on

It states that fundamental human rights do not dimini-

Ageing, adopted by the United Nations

sh with age. Due to the marginalization and disabilities

General Assembly in 1982 (Resolution 37/51)

that old age may bring, older persons are at risk of losing their rights and being rejected by society unless said rights are clearly identified and respected. The proposal was included in the United Nations Principles for Older Persons as a statement of aspirations and not as a declaration.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

Name

Coments

Additional Protocol to the American Conven-

The rights of older persons are explicitly recognized in

tion on Human Rights in the Area of Econo-

this Protocol. They are circumscribed to the area of

mic, Social and Cultural Rights of Older

welfare and assistance policies. Pursuant to Article 17

Persons (Protocol of San Salvador), 1988.

of the Protocol, everyone has the right to special protection in old age. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures progressively.

United Nations Principles for Older Persons

Governments are encouraged to incorporate the

adopted by the United Nations General

following principles into their national programs:

Assembly in 1991 (Resolution 46/91)

Independence Participation Care Self-fulfillment Dignity

In 1991, the International Federation on Ageing

The obligations of the States Parties to the Internatio-

and the Dominican Republic introduced the

nal Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Declaration on the Rights and Responsibili-

in this area are specified, including:

ties of Older Persons. It laid the foundation for

The right to work (articles 6, 7 and 8)

the United Nations Principles for Older Persons,

The right to social security (Article 9)

adopted by a resolution of the General

The right to family protection (Article 10)

Assembly in 1991.

The right to an adequate standard of living (Article 11) The right to physical and mental health (Article 12) The right to education and culture (Article 13)

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

41

#OldAgeAtRisk Name

Coments

The UN General Assembly decided to declare

Following the recommendations of the International

1999 as the International Year of Older

Conference on Aging, it was decided that October 1 of

Persons.

each year would be the International Day of Older Persons.

The Toronto Declaration on the Global

All States are urged to ensure the full and equal enjoy-

Prevention of Elder Abuse, 2002.

ment of the rights of older persons through the adoption of measures against age discrimination, abuse, and violence, and the provision of adequate health care.

42

Political Declaration and International Plan of

An international policy on ageing was designed that

Action on Ageing, Second World Assembly on

included a plan of action advocating for a change of

Ageing. Madrid, 2002.

attitudes and practices at all levels aimed at harnessing the potential of older persons in the 21st century.

The recommendations for action prioritize the development, promotion, and protection of the health of the elderly.

The Second Regional Intergovernmental

The resulting Declaration was considered by the PAHO

Conference on Ageing in Latin America and

in the Plan of Action on the Health of Older Persons,

the Caribbean, which was organized by the

which included active and healthy ageing.

ECLAC and was held in Brasilia in 2007.

General Comment No. 6 of the Committee on

It provides for protection for individuals or groups who

Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, United

are at greater risk of torture or ill-treatment, including

Nations, 1995. This Committee has been

the elderly.

expanding content through its General Comments, particularly General Comment No. 14 of 2000, General Comment No. 19 of 2008, and General Comment No. 20 of 2009.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

Name

Coments

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,

States Parties are called upon to take appropriate

Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or

measures, including legislative, aimed at eliminating

Punishment. General Comment No. 2. United

discrimination

Nations, 2008

gender- and age-sensitive policies and measures

against

older

women,

implement

that ensure the full and effective participation of elderly women in all spheres of society (political, social, economic, cultural, civil, or otherwise).

General Recommendation No. 27 on older

A general recommendation was adopted on older

women and the protection of their human

women and the protection of their human rights,

rights. United Nations Committee on the

pursuant to Article 21 of the Convention on the Elimina-

Elimination of Discrimination against Women,

tion of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

October 2010.

43

Resolution 21/23 of the United Nations Human

States are called upon to provide for and ensure the

Rights Council, 2012, on the human rights of

full and equitable enjoyment of all human rights and

older persons.

fundamental freedoms for older persons, including by taking measures to combat age discrimination, neglect, abuse, and violence. They are also urged to provide adequate health care, bearing in mind the importance of solidarity, reciprocity, and generational interdependence in the family for social development.

The Inter-American Convention on Protec-

This Convention is the first one of its kind to have the

ting the Human Rights of Older Persons, 2015.

elderly as the exclusive subject of protection. It contains provisions that promote, protect, and ensure the recognition, full enjoyment, and exercise of all human rights of older persons. Article 2 provides specific definitions of terms such as abandonment, palliative care, age discrimination, multiple discrimination, ageing, active and healthy ageing, abuse,

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

#OldAgeAtRisk Name

Coments neglect,

older

person,

older

person

receiving

long-term care services, integrated social and health services, and old age.

Follow-up to the International Year of Older

This report analyses how the current agenda for

Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing.

ageing and older persons fits into the development

Report of the Secretary-General, 2015.

agenda beyond 2015, including the sustainable development goals. It focuses on six issues directly related to the post-2015 development agenda: poverty, health, gender equality, employment and decent work, inclusive cities, and environmental emergencies. It also presents an update on recent developments in relation

44

to ageing provided by the regional commissions. It includes recommendations to ensure that no older person is left behind in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

General Comment No. 36, Article 22, 2017.

It is establishes that the right to life shall be protected by law. This means that States Parties must establish a legal framework to ensure the full enjoyment of the right to life by all persons. The duty to protect the right to life by law also includes, for States Parties, the obligation to take appropriate legal measures to protect life from all foreseeable threats, including threats from private individuals and entities.

Victimization Report: Old Age at Risk. Violent Deaths Among the Elderly in Venezuela

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 2011/2016 UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF VENEZUELA ON HUMAN RIGHTS FOR OLDER PERSONS Name

Recomendation

UPR 2011/Cycle 1. Made by Vietnam/Accepted.

Recommendation 94.10: Give more importance to the

Field: Civil and political rights. Right to effective

protection of vulnerable social groups such as

protection under the law.

women, children, the elderly, and the poor.

UPR 2016/ Cycle 2. Made by Singapore/

Recommendation 133.56: Fully implement the National

Accepted. Area: Economic, social, cultural, and

Human Rights Plan to strengthen institutional coordi-

environmental rights (ESCER). The right to

nation and oversight of human rights policies in the

social security.

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, particularly with respect to social protection programs that support the elderly and persons with disabilities.

JULY - DECEMBER 2020

45