whichaState's domestic lawmustinClude provisions topunishracial discriminatic~ 1ntheeventofitsoccurrence. Inthisconnection, members ofthe Committee, without detracting fromtheimportance oftheneedtocomplywith article 4oftheConvention, pointed outthatVenezuela wasnottheonlycountry thathadproblems withthisarticle, andthattheCommittee hadmadethesecomments tomanyotherStatesparties. Itwasalsomandatory forVenezuela tosubmit a reportshowing thatitwascomplying witharticles 2to7oftheConvention. In addition, itwasaskedwhichjudicial organs werecompetent todealwithcasesof racialdiscrimination. 92.Asfarasarti~le 14oftheConvention wasconcerned, members wishedtoknow whether Venezuela hadbeenpreparing tomakeadeclaration underthatarticle, recognizing thecompetence oftheCommittee toreceivp ~ndconsider communications fromindividualS orgroupsofindividuals claiming tobavictims ofaviolation of theirrights, andwhether theVenezuelan authorities hadreceived apetition submitted tothembyaparticular indigenous group, andifanyaction hadbeen takeninconnection withit. 93.Therepresentative ofthereporting State,inhisreplytoquestions raised andobservations madebytheCommittee's memb~rs, statedthattheindication that Venezuela hadacceded totheConvention out o~international soliuarity should be understood inabroader context, namely, thatthisstatement hadbeenmadeinorder toreaffirm theexisting legalposition onracialdiscrimination. Inthatregard, hedrewattention tothelastparagraph ofthereport, whichstatedthatthe undertaking entered intobyVenezuela undertheConv~ntion mustbeconstrued as confirming itsrepudiation ofracialdiscrimination andoparlhei~ andasan expression ofsupport forpeoples struggling against thosesocialevils. Oneof thereasons, hepointed out,whyVenezuela hadacceded totheConvention wasits deRlretoexpressitssolidarity withthosepeoples. -27-94.T.herepresentative emphasized thattoeVenezuelan Government waswellaware thatithadtoprovide theCommittee withinformation andwouldcontinue todoso. However, iftbeGovernment feltthatsomequestions raisedduringmeetings ofthe ,Committee wentbeyondtherequirements ofarticle 9oftheConvention, theywould I·'emain unanswered. I I95.Inreplytothequestions concarning indigenous communities, hesaidthatall IVen~zuelans, whether indigenous ornot,enjoyed thesame right~andprivileges. If theVenezuelan Statehadtakencertain moasures toprotect somepopulation groups, Ithatwasmotivated byitsbeliefthatithadtogivethemspecial protection. I I96.Withregardtotheapplication ofarticle 4oftheConvention, hesaidthatno Itime-limit hadbeen fi~edfortheobligation provided forinarticle 4(a).In thatconnection, hepointed outthattheVenezuelan executive branchofgovernment hadindicated tothelegislative branchthatthePenalCode,whichwasbeing revised, oughttoinc~ude provisions thatwouldsatisfy therequirements of article 4(a)oftheConvention. 97.Therepresentative saidthathehadtakennoteoftheCommittee's statement to theAffectthatVenezuela hadnothonoured itsobligations underarticle 4ofthe Convention, sincethatwasaserious allegation, whichhewouldbringtothenotice efhi.!'GoverlVl,ent. 98.Inreplytothequestions concerning article 5oftheConvention, the Irepresentative oftheStatepartystressed thattherightsmentioned inthat article ware,amongothers, protected inVenezuela notonlybytheConstitution but Ialsobyallthelegalmechanisms, suchasamparo, whichhadbeenintroduced to ensurethattherightsofcitizens wererespected. ThoserightFwereexercised without anyracialorotherformofdi&crimination. InthatcOhtext, referring to thesituation ofindigenous populations, heindicated tl'at,inparagraph 13ofthe report,itwasmoreaquestion ofthe"gradual integration" oftheindigenous communities; theVe"lezuelan Government wasendeavouring toreconcile theneedto integrate thosecommunities innational lifewiththeneedtoprotect their traditional wayoflife. 99.Asforarticle 14oftheConvention, therepresentative statedthat,in Venezuela, citizens hadallthelegalmachinery necessary tomakeuseoftheir Irights andconstitutional guarantees against abuseofauthority oranyother inf.action. Therightofamparoalsoexisted, andVenezuela didnottherefore consider itnecessary tomakesuchadeclaration. Withreference tothepetition thathadbeenmentioned, hesaidthattheletterinquestion didnotconcern a matterofracialdiscrimination; itdealtwithaviolation committed bya
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report or transcript of a meeting between a committee and a representative of the Venezuelan government, discussing the country's compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The conversation revolves around the government's efforts to address racial discrimination, its policies towards indigenous populations, and its obligations under the Convention. The discussion is focused on the legal and political aspects of racial discrimination, rather than economic, environmental, or technological issues.

**Category**
Human rights, Education