Chile must ensure justice for victims of human rights violations during 2019-2020 protests

“It is essential to advance the prosecution and sanction of State agents responsible for crimes committed during the 2019-2020 protests”, the experts said.

Chilean authorities must take urgent steps to ensure justice and full reparations for victims who suffered serious human rights violations during the 2019-2020 mass demonstrations in Chile, UN experts* said today.

"It is essential to advance the prosecution and sanction of State agents responsible for crimes committed during the 2019-2020 protests", the experts said. "Thousands of victims are still waiting for justice, truth and reparation".

In 2019, the experts sent a communication to Chilean authorities expressing concern about serious allegations of excessive use of force by security forces, including the use of live ammunition, acts of torture, sexual violence and mass arrests. In the context of the protests of 2019-2020, hundreds of demonstrators were injured, and nearly 400 suffered eye injuries and loss of sight as a result of the indiscriminate use of anti-riot shotguns to disperse demonstrations. Moreover, at least 31 persons died during the protests.

More than 10,000 complaints have been filed by victims, but few have resulted in convictions and none of the high command has been prosecuted.

"Holding those responsible accountable is key to prevent the recurrence of human rights violations by security forces and enable a safe environment for the effective exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly", the experts said.

They also stressed the importance of holding accountable those at the highest levels of the chain of command, in accordance with their specific roles and responsibilities in the alleged crimes.

"The scale of the violations and gravity of the harm inflicted on protesters, as well as the continuity of the violations, suggest that these are not isolated incidents and point to command responsibility", the experts said.

They noted that it is the responsibility of the State to hold commanders accountable for unlawful orders, or when commanders knew or should have known that law enforcement officials under their command had resorted to the unlawful use of force, and when they failed to prevent and suppress such unlawful use of force.

"Such measures are important to end the cycle of impunity, prevent the recurrence of crimes and promote justice," the experts said, stressing also that authorities must ensure that the use of force is regulated in accordance with international standards.

"Full reparations must be provided to all those who suffered harm in the context of the protests", the UN experts concluded.