CARACAS: President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that his government will "give battle" against any criticism at an upcoming UN Human Rights Council probe of Venezuela in Geneva.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro on Friday will present his government's view on rights in Venezuela at the Rights Council as part of a process known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The UN body will also consider reports submitted by UN observers and Venezuelan humanitarian, civil society and rights groups.
The process reviews the human rights records "of all 192 UN member states once every four years," the UN Human Rights Council said on its website.
The review "provides the opportunity for each state to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations.
It is the first time that Venezuela faces the UN rights review.
Chavez, who is recovering from cancer surgery and chemotherapy treatment, took a combative stance towards the review in a phone call to state network VTV.
"We must go ready to give battle," Chavez said. "There they attack us -- of course we are attacked by the Imperialists (US) and their allies -- but for each country that attacks us, 100 come out to defend us."
The team representing Venezuela will also include Supreme Court Chief Justice Luisa Morales and Attorney General Luisa Ortega, officials said.
The Venezuelan government report defends Chavez's plans to crack down on the country's soaring crime rate.
In 2010 at least 14,000 people were murdered in Venezuela -- 48 violent deaths for each 100,000 residents.
Venezuelan prisons are also chronically overcrowded: according to government data there are 50,000 people being held in a prison system built to hold a mere 14,000 inmates.
By the end of the year the UN Human Rights Council will have reviewed the human rights record of all member states.
"Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists," the Council said on its site, adding that the goal of the review "is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur."
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