Venezuela - August 2023

After the country’s ruling party accused the Venezuelan Red Cross of conspiring against the Bolivarian revolution and mistreating its employees and volunteers, Venezuela’s Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia) ordered a restructuring of the organization. It named a businessman, close to Maduro’s government to lead the board that will administer the Red Cross’s assets and work on its ‘modernization’. It further announced the previous president and board members could be the subject of a prosecution. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has expressed its concern over the government’s intervention in its Venezuelan chapter and emphasized that its own mechanisms are able to address allegations of internal misconduct. 

Sources: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Reuters, El Pais