legal and psychological support legal
by Sofia Silei
The “Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Caracazo” (Covafic) is a prominent Venezuelan non-governmental organization established in 1989 in response to the violent crackdown known as El Caracazo. This event, marked by severe government repression and numerous casualties, became the catalyst for Covafic’s formation. The organization is dedicated to advancing and defending human rights through providing legal and psychological support to victims of human rights abuses, as well as documenting cases of extrajudicial executions, torture, and forced disappearances.
Initially, Covafic focused on supporting the families of those affected by El Caracazo. Over time, the organization expanded its work to address a wider range of human rights issues across Venezuela. By the mid-1990s, Covafic had started presenting key cases to the Inter-American Human Rights System, achieving its first significant ruling against the Venezuelan state by the late 1990s. This success paved the way for a series of legal victories and reinforced the organization’s role in advocating for justice.
From 2004 to 2011, Covafic intensified its efforts to expose and address paramilitary violence and extrajudicial killings in Venezuela. During this period, they established the Unit for Assistance to Human Rights Defenders at Risk. In the years that followed, Covafic continued to provide comprehensive support to victims, engaging with both national and international bodies to uphold human rights.
Covafic’s contributions to international human rights litigation are noteworthy. They have been involved in nearly 70% of the cases against the Venezuelan state before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, securing favourable rulings in numerous instances. Their involvement in various coalitions, including Forum for Life, the SOS Torture Network, and the Latin American Network of Strategic Litigation on Gender, underscores their significant impact on the global human rights landscape.
The organization offers a holistic approach to victim support, combining legal, psychological, and communication assistance. They guide victims through the complexities of pursuing justice at both local and international levels, provide psychological care to address trauma, and offer advice on media engagement to enhance visibility and pressure on justice systems.
Covafic is also recognized for its innovative integration of psycho-legal support, combining legal and psychological care with human rights education. This comprehensive model has proven crucial in addressing the multifaceted impacts of violence on victims.
The founders of Covafic include Yris Del Valle Medina, who has been pivotal in legal advocacy and victim support; Maritza Romero, who has built the organization’s documentation centre; Liliana Ortega Mendoza, a lawyer and human rights professor involved in several high-profile cases; Hilda Rosa Paez, the current President and a key community leader; and Aura Liscano, who was instrumental in establishing Covafic and documenting historical human rights violations.
On the cover photo, the Covafic’s website screenshoot
