President Piñera marks International Human Rights Day: “In Chile, we must ensure that every person’s human rights will always be respected.”
The President highlighted the strengthening of State agencies that work in this area and stated that there will be no impunity for those who violate citizens’ fundamental rights.
President Sebastián Piñera commemorated International Human Rights Day on Tuesday at a ceremony held in La Moneda Palace, during which he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening institutions and providing assistance to victims whose essential rights have been violated.
“We must be concerned about and address this on an ongoing basis, because history has shown us that it is never enough,” the President said during an activity where he was accompanied by representatives of the branches of State, human rights organizations, ministers and undersecretaries.
The President noted the creation of the Human Rights Technical Committee, which includes the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Judicial Branch, National Human Rights Institute, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, the Carabineros (uniformed police) and the United Nations, among other entities. The focus of the committee is to review the use of force by security forces, improve protection of the rights of detained individuals, advise the Armed Forces and police on their training processes and review the recommendations made by human rights organizations.
He also said that the Office of the Undersecretary of Human Rights will be strengthened in order to increase its capacity to organize all the human rights measures adopted by the government and the State and to coordinate comprehensive assistance and support for individuals who have reported human rights violations and have been the victims of violence.
The President also made a commitment to “very concrete assistance plans for medical treatment as well as professional, social and psychological services for the victims of human rights violations.”
“There will be no impunity for those who have committed serious crimes against society and individuals and who have caused so much harm. There will also be no impunity for those who have violated human rights,” the President said.
During the event held in the Montt Varas Room at La Moneda Palace, the President also praised the work of the National Human Rights Institute and Office of the Ombudsman for Children.