A/HRC/41/18 such as the weekly television programme “Con el Mazo Dando”, presented by the President of the National Constituent Assembly.26 35. Successive laws and reforms have facilitated the criminalization of the opposition and of anyone critical of the Government through vague provisions, increased sanctions for acts that are guaranteed by the right of freedom of peaceful assembly, the use of military jurisdiction for civilians and restrictions on non-governmental organizations representing victims of human rights violations. 27 36. Between January 2018 and May 2019, various trade union leaders and many workers were fired or detained after protesting for decent salaries and working conditions. Dozens of health professionals who denounced the state of health care were dismissed and/or threatened by superiors and some were arbitrarily detained. University staff critical of the Government were threatened with non-payment of salaries, prevented from accessing their workplace and from travelling abroad and were arbitrarily detained. Human rights defenders were victims of defamation campaigns in pro-government media and subjected to surveillance, intimidation, harassment, threats and arbitrary detention. Attacks have also targeted supporters of the former President, Hugo Chávez, and military dissidents, as well as civil servants and employees of State companies who are perceived as opponents. Many victims of such acts have reduced their public activities, gone into hiding or into exile. Furthermore, women in particular human rights defenders, nurses, teachers and civil servants, have faced gendered attacks such as sexist comments, online gender-based violence and public humiliation. The targeted repression of opposition members and social leaders instils fear by demonstrating the possible consequences of opposing or merely criticizing the Government or expressing dissent. 37. As at June 2019, 22 deputies of the National Assembly, including its President, have been stripped of their parliamentary immunity by the Supreme Court of Justice. Many of them have been charged with treason, conspiracy, incitement to insurrection, civil rebellion and association with others to commit an offence, among others, following incidents on 4 August 2018, after an alleged failed assassination attempt against the President, and on 30 April 2019, when the President of the National Assembly called for the armed forces to defect and defy the Government. Two deputies are being held in pretrial detention, 28 while 16 others have sought protection in foreign embassies, left the country or gone into hiding. 38. Attacks against relatives of political opponents are part of the targeted repression by the Government. OHCHR documented an increasing number of arbitrary detentions of relatives, particularly female relatives, of alleged political opponents. Without access to lawyers, they are interrogated about the whereabouts of their relatives and, in some cases, are ill-treated and tortured. These detentions are carried out as a means to exert pressure on the alleged fugitive, but also as a punishment. Relatives are also subjected to death threats, further harm to their families, surveillance, intimidation and harassment. In addition, women are subjected to sexual and gender-based violence and humiliation during visits to detention centres, security operations and house raids. 3. Excessive use of force and deaths in the context of anti-government demonstrations 39. As the political, social and economic crisis deepened, protests against the Government have increased in number and intensity since 2014. According to the Government, 12,913 demonstrations took place in 2017; 7,563 in 2018; and 3,251 between 26 27 28 8 Established in August 2017 after an electoral process that lacked political inclusivity and was marred with irregularities. The National Constituent Assembly has assumed, de facto, the constitutional responsibilities of the National Assembly. For example, “Constitutional Law against Hatred, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance”, adopted by the National Constituent Assembly on 8 November 2017, the “Law against Organized Crime and Funding of Terrorism” of 31 January 2012, and the reform of the Criminal Procedure Code, adopted by ministerial decree on 15 June 2012. The Vice President of the National Assembly, Edgar Zambrano, has been detained since 8 May 2019, and Deputy Juan Requesens has been detained since 7 August 2018.