The UN held a minute of silence for Chávez.
The United Nations Human Rights Council paid tribute to the Venezuelan president, who has been a frequent target of criticism from the organization itself over the years.
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) The UN's main human rights forum observed a minute of silence on Wednesday in honor of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who has been a frequent target of criticism from the organization itself over the years.
The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly expressed concerns about freedom of expression, the lack of judicial independence, restrictions on activists, and arbitrary detentions in Venezuela under the government of Chávez, who died on Tuesday.
The Cuban ambassador --who has already declared three days of mourning for the death of her ally Chávez-- led diplomats in Geneva in observing the minute of silence.
"On behalf of Latin America and the Caribbean, we wish to express our deep solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela, especially the family and friends of Commander Chávez," said Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo.
"Chávez was instrumental in advancing Latin America toward its second independence. He worked tirelessly not only for his people, but for the betterment of the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean," she said.
Under Chávez's leadership, Venezuela achieved most of the ambitious UN goals for improving health and education, known as the Millennium Development Goals, according to the Cuban diplomat.
"Chávez didn't die, he won't go down in history yesterday, he went down in history a decade ago, when he started the Bolivarian revolution and the fight for true Latin American integration," she said.
Polish politician Remigiusz Aquiles Henczel, who holds the rotating presidency of the Council, said: "On behalf of the council, we reiterate our condolences to the people and government of Venezuela for the death of Hugo Chávez."
Venezuela became one of the 47 members of the council this year, under a rotation system in which member countries are chosen by the UN General Assembly. Western countries expect the country to vote in the same way as Cuba on issues such as Syria and North Korea, now that its Caribbean ally is no longer a member.
Criticism of Venezuela
The Council, which is holding its main annual four-week session, discussed cases of arbitrary detention on Tuesday, including that of Venezuelan judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni Mora.
Afiuni has been detained since December 2009 and was raped in prison, according to independent UN experts. She was arrested after allowing the release of a businessman accused of subverting exchange controls, claiming that his pre-trial detention was longer than generally permitted under Venezuelan law.
"The situation of Judge Afiuni is an emblematic case of retaliation for having collaborated with one of the UN human rights bodies," said Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, in a statement on February 14.
The Venezuelan delegation denounced Afiuni on Tuesday for his "fraudulent activities and refusal to appear before the court."