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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This resolution strongly condemns the undemocratic government of Venezuela.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 ▸ strongly condemns Nicolás Maduro's regime for its violation of the basic human
14 rights of countless Venezuelans;
15 ▸ calls upon the government of Venezuela to reject socialism and restore democracy;
16 ▸ supports and stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their fight to
17 achieve freedom and democracy;
18 ▸ urges the United States federal government to take substantive action to ensure
19 Maduro's resignation and a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela; and
20 ▸ encourages Utah schools and higher learning institutions to teach Utah students
21 about these current events and the dangers of socialism and authoritarian regimes.
22 Special Clauses:
23 None
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25 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
26 WHEREAS, the collapse of democratic governance and the proliferation of political
27 corruption, criminal violence, failed economic policies, and hyperinflation have created a
28 devastating humanitarian crisis in Venezuela;
29 WHEREAS, the majority of Venezuela's citizens lack access to essential medicines and
30 basic food supplies;
31 WHEREAS, in September 2020 a United Nations mission found that Nicolás Maduro
32 and his regime have carried out thousands of extrajudicial murders of peaceful dissidents and
33 political opponents since Maduro's rise to power in 2013;
34 WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has a demonstrated track record of holding fraudulent
35 elections over the last five years;
36 WHEREAS, on December 6, 2020, the regime of Nicolás Maduro held fraudulent
37 legislative elections for Venezuela's National Assembly that did not comply with international
38 standards for free, fair, and transparent electoral processes;
39 WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has detained hundreds of political prisoners in
40 dangerous and inhumane conditions across Venezuela, including a Utah native, who was freed
41 in 2018;
42 WHEREAS, the Maduro regime's security forces continue to engage in torture and
43 sexual abuse of political prisoners and members of their families to stoke terror and repress
44 pro-democracy efforts in Venezuela;
45 WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has increased arbitrary detention and intimidation of
46 journalists, frontline workers, and legislators to silence criticism of the regime's mishandling of
47 the COVID-19 pandemic;
48 WHEREAS, the average Venezuelan lost 24 pounds of body weight in 2017 due to
49 widespread poverty and food shortages;
50 WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has consistently restricted the ability of nonprofits and
51 humanitarian aid organizations to assist Venezuelans in need of basic foodstuffs and hygiene
52 items;
53 WHEREAS, to date, these deteriorating conditions have led over 5.6 million
54 Venezuelans to leave their country, making it the second-largest external displacement crisis in
55 the world; and
56 WHEREAS, Utah is home to thousands of Venezuelan asylees, refugees, and citizens
57 of Venezuelan descent, many of whom long to return to their native country if political
58 conditions improve:
59 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
60 Governor concurring therein, strongly condemns Nicolás Maduro's regime for its violation of
61 the basic human rights of countless Venezuelans.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor call upon the
63 government of Venezuela to reject socialism and restore democracy.
64 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor support and stand
65 in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their fight to achieve freedom and democracy.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the United
67 States federal government to take substantive action to ensure Maduro's resignation and a
68 peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage Utah
70 schools and higher learning institutions to teach Utah students about these current events and
71 the dangers of socialism and authoritarian regimes.
72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of
73 Utah's congressional delegation.