A/HRC/44/20 registered throughout the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 17 Around 73 per cent were related to low wages, high food prices, delays in the distribution of food assistance boxes, and lack of basic services, including health care. Since April 2020, OHCHR has observed an increase in the number of protests related to lack of water, high food prices and fuel scarcity. In April and May, 44 such protests led to looting. OHCHR documented the killing of a man in the context of looting in Bolívar State on 23 April 2020, for which a criminal proceeding was initiated against four members of the municipal police for homicide and unlawful use of a firearm. On 24 April, in response to high food prices, the Government announced that it would take over a number of food companies for a period of 180 days and set price controls on 27 basic food items. On 4 May, the President renewed the decree on the state of economic emergency in place since May 2016.18 18. Indigenous communities have also reported a lack of access to medical care. Fuel shortages have prevented access to medical treatment outside their often isolated territories, and exacerbated challenges in accessing food. Several indigenous groups, including the Warao peoples, reported severe food scarcity, which has worsened since the implementation of measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to drinking water is also of increasing concern, including for the Wayuu peoples. The Wayuu have held seven protests against increases in water, food and medicine shortages since the imposition of measures related to COVID-19. Three of those protests were met with excessive use of force, including one in Zulia State on 12 April, when an indigenous woman was injured by buckshot. 19. As part of its response to the serious humanitarian situation, in 2019 the United Nations country office in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela provided humanitarian assistance to more than 2.4 million of the 7 million people considered to be in need. The assistance included medicines and medical equipment; water, sanitation and hygiene support; school kits; and food distribution, cash vouchers and agricultural support. 19 III. Democratic and civic space 20. OHCHR continued to document restrictions to freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right of participation in public affairs, which have continued to restrict civic and democratic space in the run-up to the electoral process. 21. Since 5 January 2020, security forces have blocked access to the National Assembly, including by using force, of a group of parliamentarians supporting the renewal of Juan Guaidó as president of the National Assembly. As of June 2020, the Supreme Court of Justice had stripped 28 opposition deputies of their parliamentary immunity. Four were detained and one was under house arrest. In addition, 36 deputies had left the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela or had gone into hiding, many having been charged with treason, conspiracy, incitement to insurrection, civil rebellion and criminal association, among others. Three of Mr. Guaidó’s aides, his uncle and a woman previously related to an aide were detained. On 25 May, the Attorney General requested that the Supreme Court determine if the political party Voluntad Popular could be considered to be a terrorist organization under the law against organized crime and the funding of terrorism. On 26 May, the Supreme Court validated the 5 January 2020 election of Luis Parra 20 as President of the National Assembly. In addition, the Supreme Court declared as “in contempt” the Presidency of Mr. Guaidó. 22. During the reporting period, the Government reported that security forces and intelligence services had thwarted several attempted insurrections, rebellions and assaults on military bases, including an incursion by former members of the country’s military and two former members of the United States military in Vargas State, on 3 and 4 May 2020. 17 18 19 20 Calculations made on the basis of reports provided by the organization. See www.observatoriodeconflictos.org.ve/ (in Spanish). Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Extraordinary Official Gazette, No. 6,534 (4 May 2020). https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/venezuela_hrp_2020_es_vf.pdf (in Spanish). Deputy from the opposition that broke with the majority of the opposition. 5