preventing effective access to public information of key bodies, such as the General Attorney, the Ombudsman and the Body of Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations (CICPC), which is why no official figures are available on the occurrence of these crimes in recent years. According to the report of the Public Ministry, in 2011 the rate of impunity in cases involving human rights violations was 97% whereas the corresponding report in 2012 estimated that, based on the information provided in the Annual Report, the rate of impunity reached 96.8%. In Venezuela there is a clear increase in political violence, which is notably evident in the substantial increase in the criminalization of public protest.3A key cross-cutting tool that helps to analyze the extent of violence in general, and specifically in the field of human rights, is the correlation between impunity and institutional deficit.impunity associated with institutional deficit. After the facts for this report were gathered, and with the worsening of public safety and increasing public outcry, the national government decided, on May 13, 20134, to use the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) to provide public safety in the metropolitan area of Caracas, announcing that this mechanism will be gradually implemented in the rest of the country with a focus on the most densely populated states, such as Lara, Carabobo and Zulia. This disregardswhat is enshrined in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which in Article 332 establishes that ... "Organs of civilian security organs are of civil nature andshall respect human dignity and human rights, without discrimination of any kind."5 This form of direct action by a component of the FANB to maintain public order, such as with the National Bolivarian Guard, was used in the states when the events occurred during the time in which this report was compiled.
3
According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, during 2012 at least 15 protests were recorded each day, making up a total of 5,483 protests during the year. According to the Annual Report from PROVEA, there were 3,986 demonstrations in 2012. So far in 2013, the Observatory has recorded at least 1036 nationwide protests. 4
Correodel Orinoco. President Nicolas Maduro Launches “Secure Homeland� (Patria Segura) Plan. Published on May 13, 2013. Retrieved on the link http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/nacionales/presidente-nicolas-maduro-lanza-planpatria-segura/ 5
Article 332 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Official Gazette No. 5908 of February 19, 2009, with Amendment Number 1 adopted by constitutional referendum within 15 days of February 2009.