Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Information on membership cards for the Venezuelan political party Justice First was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Justice First indicated that a person can register to become a member and obtain a membership card through one of their two websites, www.primerojusticia.org.ve or www.mipj.net (Primero Justicia 14 Jan. 2015). According to the representative, once a person has entered their personal information and is registered, they can upload a photo and the website registry will produce a membership card (ibid.). Moreover, the website registry will generate a certificate number for future reference (ibid.). Lastly, a person has the option to print their card on paper or cardboard, and to affix a photo after their membership card has been printed (ibid.). The representative was unable to provide further information on the appearance of the membership card within the time constraints of this Response.

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Primero Justicia. 14 January 2015. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following individuals and organizations were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Adjunct Professor of Latin American Studies, University of Helsinki; Democratic Unity Roundtable; Foundation for Democratic Advancement. The following organization was unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response: National Electoral Council of Venezuela.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Elections Venezuela; El Nacional; El Universal; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; IRIN; Keesing Reference Systems; LatinNews; Political Handbook of the World 2014; Últimas Noticias; United Nations – Refworld; United States – Department of State.