VHeadline.com News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue writes:  The Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (OVP) highlights the importance of a statement from the Inter American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) to the Venezuelan State regarding personal integrity of prisoners in Venezuela. 

OVP director, Humberto Prado reports that this year 309 prisoners have died and another 725 have been wounded ... 90% because of confrontations and the rest for diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and heart problems. 

• "The State has ultimate responsibility because there is a complete violation of the right to life." 

Prado insists that on the part of the government there is a whole pile of good intentions but in practice Venezuela presents one of the worst panoramas in prison treatment. 

Good intentions, Prado states, will not solve this problem. 

The IAHRC has called on the Venezuelan State to do something about the situation and Prado feels it is a step forward. 

Despite assurances to the contrary from the Minister in charge of prisons, there are still strikes occurring throughout the country's prisons. 

Prado says he is concerned about a hunger strike by prisoners in Cuidad Bolivar prison and he reports that inmates of the Barinas prison are demanding the removal of the director for supposed mistreatment. 

OVP has joined other NGOs in sending a report to the IAHRC, requesting respect for human rights  and freedom of expression in different areas of national life.