Civil Engineer, human rights activist, father and husband.
On December 13th, 2022, my family and I would begin the journey of our lives. My family consists of my wife, my son, and myself, Nelson Morillo. We were all born in Venezuela without nationality from any other country. We arrived in Iceland on December 14th and applied for international protection. In Venezuela, we were repeatedly persecuted by the Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics Corps (CICPC) in order to extort us for various reasons without any legal basis, justified under the protection of the Venezuelan state’s policies. Due to the rampant corruption at the highest levels of state institutions, constant violation of our basic rights to life, and the possibility of being unjustly imprisoned, we decided to emigrate from our country.
In Iceland, a series of unfavorable events affecting Venezuelan migrants negatively have occurred. The Icelandic government, based on theories that “Venezuela has improved,” in March 2023, changed the refugee status for Venezuelans (a law that also applied to those of us who arrived in 2022). They have already sent Venezuelan compatriots back to Venezuela when it is public knowledge, through reports from international and local organizations in Venezuela, various NGOs, and other human rights organizations worldwide, about the countless deficiencies and persistent violations that occur daily in Venezuela, not only against specific individuals but also against the general population.
As a result of this situation, I decided to be part of the creation of a human rights defense group for Venezuelans in Iceland called the “Ad Hoc Group for the Defense of Human Rights of Venezuelans in Iceland.” This group has been taking shape since November 2023 until the current date. From our organization, we have repeatedly denounced and protested against the abuses by the Venezuelan government against human rights activists, demanding an end to raids, persecution, and imprisonment of leaders and activist citizens.
On the other hand, we are deeply concerned about the expulsion of Venezuelans from Iceland who fear for their safety in Venezuela. As an activist member of human rights for Venezuelans in Iceland and a whistleblower for hundreds of abuses happening in Venezuela daily, it is evident that the individuals belonging to our group face a real, credible, and undeniable risk that if we are returned to Venezuela, our human rights will be violated and abused, as unfortunately has recently happened with our colleague activist Rocio San Miguel and thousands of others over the years.
The Universal Declaration promises all individuals economic, social, political, cultural, and civic rights that sustain a life without poverty and fear.
Contact: nelsonmorillo@humanrightsvenezuelansiceland.com
