11 acts of harassment, institution of judicial proceedings, threats, attacks against lives and physical well-being, smear campaigns, and public discrediting by government officials of the work of human rights defenders in Venezuela. 52. mentioned, Finally, in its report entitled Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela the Commission Venezuelan human rights organizations have noted with concern that murders and executions of human rights defenders have been recorded for the first time in Venezuela's democratic history. The Vicariate of Human Rights of Caracas has documented six cases of violations of the right to life of human rights defenders in Venezuela between 1997 and 2007.31 The IACHR mentioned that one of the six murders was the landmark case of Joe Luis Castillo González.32 2. The work of Joe Luis Castillo González as a human rights defender 53. Joe Luis Castillo González was a lawyer who had been living since 1999 in the city of Machiques, State of Zulia, with his wife, Yelitze Moreno de Castillo, a teacher. 33 Upon moving to the city of Machiques Joe Luis Castillo González and his wife began work on human rights protection and education projects at the Social Action Office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Machiques.34 In his work as a human rights defender Joe Luis Castillo González served as General Coordinator of the Social Action Office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Machiques and, in that capacity, provided humanitarian and legal assistance to Colombian citizens who entered Venezuela as refugees. He also worked in defense of campesinos and indigenous communities in the State of Zulia.35 For her part, Yelitze Moreno de Castillo worked in the human rights education and training program of the Apostolic Vicariate of Machiques.36 Annual Report 2005. Chapter IV. Venezuela OEA/Ser.L/V/II.124 Doc. 7. February 27, 2006, pars. 337 et seq. http://www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2005eng/chap.4e.htm. Available at 28 In its annual report for 2006 the IACHR regretted “that it received information in 2006 denouncing the existence of acts of harassment and intimidation through discourse belittling human rights defenders and groups or individuals who are critical of the policies or objectives of the government” and it called on the state to prevent a repeat of these situation. IACHR Annual Report 2006. Chapter IV. Venezuela OEA/Ser.L/V/II.127 Doc. 4 rev. 1. March 3, 2007, pars. 211, 216 and 219. Available at http://www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2006eng/Chap.4f.htm. 29 In its annual report for 2007, the IACHR said that it “continued to receive information regarding the situation of human rights defenders in Venezuela. The following are some of the more alarming developments, [...]: i) the increasing number of threats and attempts on the life and physical well-being of human rights defenders; and ii) other obstacles human defenders face, such as public discrediting by officials of the State, accusations to the effect that they are receiving funds from abroad, and the difficulty they have when attempting to get access to information. IACHR. Annual Report 2007. Chapter IV. Venezuela. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.130 Doc. 22 rev. 1. December 29, 2007, pars. 232 et seq. Available at http://www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2007eng/Chap.4f.htm. 30 In its annual report for 2008, the IACHR said that it “continued to receive troubling information about the situation of human rights defenders in Venezuela. In this section, the Commission will discuss situations that warrant special attention, in the following order: a) life and physical well-being; b) public statements that discredit the work of human rights defenders; c) the institution of legal action, and d) administrative and financial controls. IACHR. Annual Report 2008. Chapter IV. Venezuela. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.134 Doc. 5 rev. 1. February 25, 2009, pars. 346 et seq. Available at http://www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2008eng/Chap4.f.eng.htm. 31 Vicariate of Human Rights of Caracas. Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Venezuela 2007, p. 38, in IACHR, Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela. Chapter V.B. Obstacles to the work of defending human rights. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 54. December 30, 2009, par. 623. Available at http://www.cidh.oas.org/countryrep/Venezuela2009eng/VE09CHAPVENG.htm#CHAPTER%20V. 32 IACHR. Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela. Chapter V.B. Obstacles to the work of defending human rights. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 54. December 30, 2009, pars. 624 and 625. Available at http://www.cidh.oas.org/countryrep/Venezuela2009eng/VE09CHAPVENG.htm#CHAPTER%20V. 33 Psychological and Social Assistance Unit, COFAVIC, interview with Yelitze Lisbeth Moreno Cova, June 7, 2007. Annex 2 of the petitioners’ brief on merits received at the IACHR on July 13, 2007. Not contested by the State. 34 Psychological and Social Assistance Unit, COFAVIC, interview with Yelitze Lisbeth Moreno Cova, June 7, 2007. Annex 2 of the petitioners’ brief on merits received at the IACHR on July 13, 2007. Not contested by the State. 35 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, Office of the 83rd Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Metropolitan Caracas, interview with Yelitze Lisbeth Moreno Cova, September 10,