For 12 years now, the Venezuelan government has gradually and consistently launched attacks on the most basic tenants of democracy. Multiple international organizations have pointed the finger at Mr. Chávez for fostering a “precarious human rights situation” and dismantling the freedom of the press.  Apparently for “El Presidente,” his “21st Century Socialism” means government power that toes the line of dictatorship.

Adding to the long laundry list of violations that characterizes the Chávez administration is the government’s manipulation of the judiciary branch to persecute political opponents. That practice is being put to the test by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based in San José, Costa Rica. The organization Democracy on Trial explains:

On March 1st- 2, 2011, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (the Court ) in San José, Costa Rica will hold a public hearing to decide whether or not the Venezuelan government arbitrarily disqualified opposition leader Leopoldo López from exercising his political rights.

López decided to appeal to the Inter-American Human Rights System (part of the Organization of American States, OAS) as the Venezuelan government had barred him politically and ignored allowable limits to political rights as enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights (the Convention).

The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, pursuant to Article 23 of the Convention, establishes that political rights can only be suspended “by for a final and definitive criminal decision.” In other words, only those “convicted of a crime” may have their political rights restricted. López has neither gone to trial nor been convicted. In his view, political motivations are behind the unjust disqualification.

The outcome of the case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has greater implications than just the potential reinstatement of López’s eligibility to run for office. Via Democracy on Trial:

This Court’s decision will be crucial for the future of democracy in the region and particularly in Venezuela. Approximately 300 other opposition political leaders–also disqualified by the Venezuelan State–stand to benefit from the result. In addition, the case would also set precedent throughout the hemisphere and prevent future use of political disqualification as a tool for persecution and restriction of political rights.

Below is a video that explains the case in detail:

For more information on this case, please visit http://democraciaenjuego.org/en/