The following information was provided during an 8 September 1997 telephone interview with the executive director of the Centro de Investigación Social, Formación y Estudios de la Mujer (CISFEM), one of the leading organizations working on domestic violence issues in Venezuela.

The executive director stated that a draft bill on intrafamily violence (anteproyecto de ley contra la violencia hacia la mujer y la familia) has been introduced in the national congress, but that no discussions have taken place yet. The executive director mentioned that CISFEM, which is one of the advising organizations on the draft bill, has participated in numerous campaigns over the last few months to pressure the government to start analyzing and debating the bill. The source stated that there are still no shelters in Caracas for women victims of domestic violence, although they can seek legal and psychological help from the various organizations specializing on the issue. The source stated that in addition to CISFEM, the Federación Venezolana de Abogadas (FEVA, Venezuelan Federation of Lawyers), the Asociación Nacional de Clínica y Asistencia Jurídica Voluntaria (ASOCLIVA, National Association of Clinics and Voluntary Legal Aid) and the women's rights assistance bureau of the Fiscalía General de la República (Attorney General Office), all offer legal aid to women at very low or no cost.

The executive director also mentioned that organizations such as the Asociación Venezolana para una Educación Sexual Alternativa (AVESA, Venezuelan Association for Alternative Sexual Education), the Servicio de Orientación (OBE, Orientation Services) and the Fundación para la prevención de la Violencia Doméstica hacia la Mujer (FUNDAMUJER, Foundation for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Against Women) also provide psychological assistance to women victims of domestic violence.

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

Reference

Centro de Investigación Social, Formación y Estudios de la Mujer (CISFEM), Caracas. 8 September 1997. Telephone interview with the executive director.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. 1995-1996.

_____. Urgent Action. 1995-1997.

_____. 10 April 1995. Venezuela: The Law of Vagrants and Crooks: Suppressing Dissent and Punishing the Poor.. London: Amnesty International (AI Index : AMR 53/01/95).

Andean Newsletter [Lima]. 1995-1997.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1995-1996. US Department of State. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]: Venezuela. 1995-1997.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS).Daily Reports.

Human Rights Watch World Report.1995-1997.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1995-1997.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 1995-1997.

Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA), Caracas. Annual Report. October 1994-september 1995, September 1995-October 1996.

Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz. August1996. Venezuela: Horror e Impunidad. Inventario No. 3. Registro y Seguimiento de casos de violación del derecho a la Vida y a la Seguridad Personal en Venezuela, 1 de Noviembre de 1994-31 de Octubre de 1995. Caracas : Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz.

República de Venezuela. Ministerio Público. Fiscal General de la República. Informe al Congreso de la República. 1996. Tomo I y II. Caracas: Fiscalía General de la República.

Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).