The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed solidarity with Venezuelan nurses and calls for the protection of rights in crises.
The ICN has reached out to the Venezuelan Nursing Association (Federation of Nursing Professionals of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) in response to recent political developments and the ongoing crisis affecting the country to reaffirm that the global nursing community supports Venezuelan nurses during this challenging time.
The ICN recognises that times of political, social and institutional crisis place individual and collective rights at particular risk, said ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano.
“For nurses, the pressures of emergencies are often intensified by already difficult working conditions, resource shortages and high demands for care.
“Despite this, nurses in Venezuela and around the world continue to fulfil their professional and ethical responsibilities to patients and communities, often while facing heightened personal and professional vulnerability.”
It was critical that International Humanitarian Law, protecting the safety of healthcare workers and facilities, was respected in all places, he said.
States of emergency and crisis can also involve strong risks to civil liberties, including the right to speak and organize freely and to come together collectively to promote and defend work interests, as enshrined by the International Labour Organization.
“Protecting life and health must remain paramount in all circumstances. Nurses in Venezuela continue to deliver essential care under extremely challenging conditions. Their safety, dignity and access to resources must be ensured, in full respect of international law protecting health workers and facilities.
“ICN also stresses the importance of maintaining health services, enabling humanitarian access where needed, and ensuring that nurses can speak and organize professionally without fear. ICN will continue its dialogue with the national nursing organization and stand with nurses in promoting human rights, safe working conditions and peace.”
In ICN’s #Nurses4Peace campaign, humanitarian work, and general advocacy, ICN calls for full protection of nurses’ rights to safety, dignity, and the ability to express their collective voice.
Respect for these rights is essential not only for nurses themselves, but for the resilience and functioning of health systems, especially during periods of instability or emergency.
ICN remains committed to standing with nurses in Venezuela and in all situations of crisis and conflict worldwide in calling for respect for human rights and safety, decent working conditions, and peace, even in the most difficult circumstances.
