A/HRC/44/20 granted conditional release to 42 individuals (36 men and 6 women). In addition, in May 2020, a total of 24 individuals were conditionally released from the Directorate General of Military Counter-intelligence headquarters in Boleíta and the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service headquarters in Helicoide. This followed the release of 62 people in accordance with commitments made pursuant to the visit of the High Commissioner to the country, including cases considered to be arbitrary by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. VI. Conclusions 79. OHCHR welcomes the increased cooperation with authorities to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights through its presence in the country. OHCHR also welcomes efforts by the Government to increase engagement with international human rights mechanisms, in particular the special procedures system, and through the establishment of a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up. Increased access to detention centres and detainees by OHCHR and the consolidation of the mechanism established to refer individual cases to authorities constitute key protection tools that could serve as catalysts for necessary reforms to ensure respect for human rights. 80. The Government’s efforts to reactivate the economy, increase wages and maintain the coverage of social programmes has been insufficient to guarantee a minimum essential level of economic and social rights, in particular for the most vulnerable sectors of society. The enjoyment of the right to an adequate standard of living for millions of Venezuelans is affected on a daily basis by low wages, high food prices, limited access to health care, and persistent public service shortfalls, which have been aggravated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and fuel shortages. Sectoral economic sanctions and related overcompliance by the financial sector have exacerbated this situation, including by significantly reducing the State revenues that could have been allocated for the realization of economic and social rights. 81. OHCHR continued to document restrictions to civic and democratic space, including under the “state of alarm” decreed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a context of heightened political tension, OHCHR remains concerned about criminal processes against citizens protesting against lack of access to public services, as well as parliamentarians, leaders of the opposition, journalists, health professionals and trade union leaders. Journalists and human rights defenders critical of the Government continued facing intimidation and public defamation. 82. OHCHR acknowledges a reduction in homicides rates. However, killings of young men by security forces in marginalized neighbourhoods marked by high levels of insecurity continued. Further efforts are needed to address exclusion, inequality and insecurity in impoverished neighbourhoods. OHCHR welcomes the information provided by relevant authorities on the status of investigations and stands ready to continue providing technical assistance to ensure accountability of perpetrators and redress for victims, based on international human rights norms and standards. 83. OHCHR observed a pattern of unlawful arrests, arbitrary detentions and violations of due process guarantees against individuals on the grounds of their alleged involvement in actions to destabilize the Government. Almost all individuals detained by the Directorate General of Military Counter-intelligence were forcibly disappeared for short periods following their arrest and before appearing in front of a judge. OHCHR condemns the various reported attempts of armed insurrections against the Government, and it acknowledges the right of the Government to prevent such acts, in a manner consistent with international human rights law, and to fairly prosecute those involved. However, according to international law, the prohibition of torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary deprivation of liberty are absolute, and the right to a fair trial must be guaranteed, even in states of emergency or in matters of national security. 84. OHCHR acknowledges that the Ministry for Penitentiary Services has reduced the level of violence in detention centres under its administration and has implemented initiatives to address judicial delays in opting for alternative measures to deprivation of 14