information on abortion – was released on 21 CEPAZ criticized the lack of state protection July after spending nine months detained, six for breast cancer survivors, requested by the 3 of them under house arrest. IACHR in 2020. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INHUMANE DETENTION CONDITIONS The situation of the Orinoco Mining Arc and Lack of medical care, adequate food and illegal mining remained of concern and drinking water, unsanitary conditions, continued to seriously affect the rights of overcrowding and violence in prisons and Indigenous peoples, who were subjected to other detention centres persisted. abuses including labour exploitation and Malnutrition and tuberculosis were the main gender-based violence. causes of deaths in prisons, according to the Covid-19, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons and A and gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, Window to Freedom, two local NGOs. as well as a measles epidemic, were among According to the Venezuelan Observatory of the health issues affecting Indigenous Prisons, 94 detainees died in custody, most peoples during the year, according to civil due to malnutrition. society organizations. A Window to Freedom reported overcrowding in preventive detention centres 1. Venezuela: Impunity in the Face of Lethal Policy of Social Control of 292%, while the Venezuelan Observatory (Index: AMR 53/3632/2021), 18 February of Prisons pointed out that overcrowding in 2. Venezuela: Human Rights Lose Whilst Impunity Prevails: Amnesty other prisons reached 198% and that 56% of International Submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review, 40th the prison population was held in pre-trial Session of the UPR Working Group, January 2022 (Index: AMR detention. 53/4488/2021), 23 July 3. Venezuela: Urgent Action: Women and Girls’ Rights Defender is Free DISCRIMINATION (Index: AMR 53/4508/2021), 22 July LGBTI PEOPLE There was a lack of legislation and public VIET NAM policies guaranteeing the rights of LGBTI people. The IACHR called on the state to take effective measures to recognize the rights of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam LGBTI people and to eradicate Head of state: Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (replaced Nguyễn discrimination, violence and situations of Phú Trọng in April) vulnerability to which they are exposed. Head of government: Phạm Minh Chính (replaced WOMEN Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in April) The Attorney General’s Office announced that A severe crackdown on both online and there were 72 prosecutorial offices offline dissent occurred during the nationwide specializing in criminal Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) investigations into gender-based violence. National Conference and national elections. Local NGOs continued to report that Independent journalists, publishers and prosecutors, judges, police officers and other other government critics were arrested and officials remained ill-equipped to protect charged under repressive laws. Human women's rights and women were often re- rights defenders were subjected to victimized as a result of institutional violence. widespread harassment, unlawful digital The lack of detailed official data made it surveillance, arbitrary arrest and politically difficult to assess the situation of gender- motivated prosecution. Torture and other ill- based violence. However the Centre for treatment continued to be reported. Harsh Justice and Peace (CEPAZ) documented 235 lockdown measures to curb the spread of femicides in Venezuela between January and Covid-19 disproportionately impacted the October. most vulnerable and authorities meted out harsh penalties against those who violated Amnesty International Report 2021/22 403