( CNN ) -- Venezuela on Tuesday rejected a number of recommendations made by U.N. member countries as part of a human rights evaluation by the world body . Of 148 recommendations made in the Universal Periodic Review by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva , Switzerland , Venezuela accepted 95 of them , and is considering 15 more . But it rejected 38 recommendations that touched on judicial independence , freedom of the press and protection of nongovernmental organizations . Venezuela 's vice minister of foreign affairs , Temir Porras Ponce de Leon , said that the country rejected these recommendations because they were not legitimate . The recommendation process `` saw people who came here to disguise as recommendations what are in fact groundless statements , '' he said , labeling the rejected suggestions `` disrespectful and interfering comments . '' Among the recommendations offered by other countries and rejected by Venezuela were : . -- '' Respect the independence of the judiciary '' ( United States ) -- '' Ensure independent , open and transparent selection procedures based on merit for judges and prosecutors '' ( United Kingdom ) -- '' Step up its efforts to guarantee freedom of expression as well as the safety of journalists in the country '' ( Indonesia ) Porras Ponce de Leon called these `` marginal '' recommendations made by `` old empires . '' The Human Rights Council is a U.N. body made up of 47 countries and its goal is to address human rights in all U.N. countries . Among the council 's duties are a review of every U.N. member 's progress on the issue of human rights . The process , known as the Universal Periodic Review , happens every four years . Each country is assigned a `` troika '' of countries who lead the review effort . For Venezuela , its trio was Guatemala , Burkina Faso and the Czech Republic . Another rejected recommendation of note was one asking Venezuela to comply with the rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights . The court recently ruled in favor of an opponent of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez . Opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez had argued that he had been unjustly banned from running for office . The court agreed , and Lopez has surged as a top contender to challenge Chavez in next year 's election , but it remains to be seen if Venezuela will abide by the ruling . Venezuela also rejected a call to support the independent work of NGOs and to defend human rights activists in the country . The majority of rejected recommendations were related to accusations that have been lobbed at Venezuela , but rejected by its leaders . International groups have accused Chavez of using a friendly judiciary to silence critics and the press . But Chavez maintains that there is robust freedom of expression in his country . But , as Porras Ponce de Leon noted , Venezuela is already implementing a majority of the recommendations that it agreed with . In several cases , the recommendations it accepted sounded similar to ones it rejected . For instance , it agreed to `` support the activities of human rights defenders and independent nongovernmental organizations , '' as suggested by Canada . It also agreed with Brazil to strengthen the protection of human rights workers . It also agreed to `` continue to expand its legal framework for the promotion and protection of human rights , '' a recommendation by Indonesia . During an earlier appearance before the council , Venezuela argued that it had five separate branches of government and noted that women headed three of those . The Venezuelan Constitution protects freedom of expression , but those who exercise it will be responsible for that content , the country argued . Other successes of the Venezuelan government included an increase in school enrollment of 24 % between 1998 and 2010 , and a social mission that has offered 24 million Venezuelans free health care , it said . `` We must make sure this is not about double standards . We must make sure there is no manipulation of the dialogue of human rights to try to crush countries who fight for their independence , '' Porras Ponce de Leon said .
The U.N. 's Human Rights Council conducted a review of Venezuela . It included 148 recommendations on human rights . Comment: Those included suggestions on freedom of expression and judicial reform .