GENEVA – The Government of Venezuela continues to engage in actions constituting the crime against humanity of persecution on political grounds, committed in connection with the crime of imprisonment or severe deprivation of physical liberty and other crimes, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela said in its latest update on the country’s human rights situation.
In its presentation today to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) reported that arbitrary detentions of persons perceived as opponents to the Government, including members of the political opposition as well as human rights defenders and journalists, continue. Non-governmental sources have documented at least 42 arrests between September and December 2024 and 84 more during the first 15 days of January 2025. Some of these may constitute short-term enforce disappearances.
“The Venezuelan Government continues to orchestrate a harsh repression against persons perceived as political opponents or simply because they express dissent or critical views against the authorities,” said Marta Valiñas, Chair of the FFM. “This is part of the same course of conduct that the FFM previously characterised as crimes against humanity.”
The FFM expressed concern about the detention of at least 150 foreign nationals accused of participating in conspiracies against the Government. The fate and whereabouts of these individuals are unknown to their families and to the authorities in their countries of origin.
“Diplomatic efforts to attempt to communicate with detained persons are ignored by the Government of Nicolas Maduro, contrary to international law,” said Francisco Cox, an Expert of the FFM. “Detainees are held in strict incommunicado regimes in violation of national and international laws.”
The FFM also provided further details to the Council about one of the post-electoral protests that took place in July 2024 in Aragua state, where seven people were killed. The FFM confirmed that shots were fired at demonstrators without prior warning from inside a military facility, where members of the Army and the National Bolivarian Guard in charge of controlling the protest were located.
“The FFM has identified four generals who were involved in the public order control operation of this protest, and two senior officers who were inside the military installation from which gunshots were fired at protesters,” said Patricia Tappatá, an FFM Expert. “The State of Venezuela must investigate this incident, bring to justice those found responsible and provide reparations to victims.”
The FFM requested that the Human Rights Council urge Venezuela’s Government to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained individuals, as well as to provide them with adequate and timely medical care while they remain in detention.
Background: In September 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for one year to assess alleged human rights violations committed since 2014. The Fact-Finding Mission presented its latest annual report during an interactive dialogue at the Council in September 2024, accompanied by a coference room paper with its detailed findings. In its resolution 57/36, the Council extended the Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate for two more years, until October 2026.
Information on human rights violations can be submitted to the Mission securely and confidentially through this link.
For more information about the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, visit its website.
For media inquiries, please contact Todd Pitman, Media Advisor for Human Rights Council Investigation Missions: todd.pitman@un.org.