Following the disputed presidential election in July 2024, a UN Fact-Finding Mission has reported a significant rise in human rights violations in Venezuela, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and violence against children. The report indicates a systematic effort to suppress political dissent by Venezuelan authorities, noting that many detainees were coerced into self-incrimination without legal representation. Some abuses have been classified as crimes against humanity, prompting a call for the immediate release of those unjustly detained and increased international attention to protect vulnerable populations, especially children.
In the wake of Venezuela’s controversial presidential election in July 2024, human rights violations have surged alarmingly, as documented by the UN Fact-Finding Mission. Their comprehensive report details a harrowing panorama of abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and incidents targeting even the most vulnerable among the population—children. The findings depict a disturbing, coordinated campaign by state security forces, government officials, and pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos.” This strategy aims to dismantle opposition and stifle dissent against President Maduro’s regime. As the investigators unveil the grim reality, they reveal that detainees—among them minors and individuals with disabilities—were coerced into self-incrimination through threats and torture, while being deprived of legal representation, plunging them into an abyss of fear and uncertainty. Particularly shocking is the treatment of detained minors who are subjected to similar harrowing tactics as their adult counterparts, lacking the legal protections afforded to them under Venezuelan and international laws. The report elucidates that these violations might constitute crimes against humanity, especially in the context of political persecution, with at least 25 individuals losing their lives and thousands more enduring unjust detentions for daring to voice their beliefs and exercise their rights. The Mission has issued a clarion call for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals and advocates for the Venezuelan government’s adherence to the fundamental rights and dignities of its detainees. Furthermore, it urges worldwide attention to protect children caught in this turmoil. The independent investigators, entrusted with this critical task, continue their work as their mandate was recently extended for an additional two years, probing deeper into the calamitous state of human rights in Venezuela since 2014.
Venezuela has been mired in political turmoil and human rights controversies for years, particularly following the death of former President Hugo Chávez in 2013. His successor, Nicolás Maduro, has faced increasing opposition, resulting in extensive civil unrest and a humanitarian crisis. In this context, the UN established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in 2019, tasked with investigating alleged human rights abuses since 2014. As political tensions escalated, culminating in the disputed presidential election of 2024, reports of human rights violations surged, signifying a pattern of repression by the government against dissidents and vulnerable populations, notably children and individuals with disabilities. The Mission’s work is vital in documenting these abuses and urging international action.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission has unveiled a chilling reality of escalating human rights violations in Venezuela post-election. Expressing deep concern over arbitrary detentions, torture, and the targeting of minors, the report calls for urgent action to safeguard the rights of the oppressed. By extending its mandate, the Mission reaffirms the global commitment to holding accountable those responsible for these heinous acts and highlights the urgent need for intervention to protect the most vulnerable segments of society.
Original Source: news.un.org
