A/HRC/RES/45/2 Recalling also Human Rights Council resolution 42/4 of 26 September 2019, Recalling further General Assembly resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, entitled “Declaration on the right to development”, in which the Assembly stated that States have the duty to cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development, Recalling in particular that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has a mandate to promote and protect the effective enjoyment by all of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights and to play an active role in removing the current obstacles to and in meeting the challenges for the full realization of all human rights and in preventing the continuation of human rights violations throughout the world, Expressing concern over reports of alleged restrictions on civic and democratic space, including claims of alleged arbitrary detention, intimidation and public defamation of protesters, journalists and human rights defenders, Expressing concern also at the negative effect of unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which, according to the High Commissioner, have exacerbated further the effects of the economic crisis and thus the humanitarian situation of the Venezuelan people, Recognizing the increased cooperation of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with the High Commissioner and the Office of the High Commissioner, Welcoming the visit of the High Commissioner to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 19 to 21 June 2019 and the commitments agreed with the Government to improve the situation of human rights in the country, Recalling the memorandum of understanding signed on 20 September 2019, welcoming the commitments made in the letter of understanding signed on 14 September 2020 between the High Commissioner and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the development of cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human rights, and noting the steps taken by the Government towards the establishment of a permanent presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the full implementation of its mandate, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, Affirming its strong conviction that the responsibility for reaching a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to the current situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela lies with the Venezuelan people, without any military or security forces or foreign intelligence interference, in full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and that such a solution requires free, fair and transparent electoral processes held in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution and international standards, and in this regard encouraging all relevant diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting negotiations and a genuine and inclusive political dialogue between the Government and the opposition to find a peaceful, democratic, credible and constitutional solution in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Welcoming the granting of alternative formulas to the deprivation of liberty for 67 people since September 2019 through the Commission for Truth, Justice, Peace and Public Tranquillity, within the framework of the national dialogue process, and the pardon of 110 people as part of efforts to strengthen political dialogue, open up democratic space and improve the situation of human rights in the country, Noting the efforts made by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to cooperate with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in the implementation of policies and in the search for financial and material resources to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and of the adoption of a new humanitarian response plan for 2020, while recognizing the urgent need to facilitate further access to humanitarian assistance, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Welcoming the strengthened presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in agreement with the Government, and the progress made through technical cooperation, in areas such as the revision of police protocols on the use of force, the identification of factors that contribute to the overcrowding of pretrial detention centres, the exchange of information on individual cases and human rights situations, as well 2