UN experts urge respect for human rights ahead of Venezuela presidential inauguration News
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UN experts urge respect for human rights ahead of Venezuela presidential inauguration

An independent UN mission on Thursday urged Venezuelan authorities to respect the rights to life, liberty and personal security of all Venezuelans. The mission also demanded the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals ahead of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration to another term on January 10.  

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela found that Venezuelan authorities detained at least 56 political opposition activists, 10 journalists, and one human rights defender between August and December 2024. The mission noted that authorities are continuing to arbitrarily detain new individuals. Documenting “inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment” in prisons, the fact-finding mission emphasized Venezuela’s duty to provide special protection for detainees who are elderly or have health issues. The mission also noted the state’s duty to seriously consider the best interest of children who are still facing legal proceedings.

Patricia Tappatá, one of the experts on the mission, said the persecution of individuals who are perceived as opponents of the government is used as a form of “a systematic attack on the freedom of those who think differently.” Although authorities released some detainees, including children, it was reported that the detainees remain subject to precautionary measures and are still in danger of being charged with terrorism or treason.

Chair of the mission Marta Valiñas said:

We strongly call upon the authorities to ensure that the rights to peaceful protest and free expression be exercised without fear of reprisal. We remind security forces responsible for maintaining public order that they should adhere to the strictest international standards on the use of force. Any violations of rights must be promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigated and prosecuted by independent courts, with full respect for due process. 

Reports of the violent repression of protests began after the announcement of President Maduro’s victory, with Maudro receiving 51 percent of the votes compared with 44 percent for Edmundo González Urrutia. According to the mission’s most recent report to the Human Rights Council in October 2024, several highly ranked government officials, including President Maduro, published threatening statements such as announcing maximum punishment for the protesters and warnings that “this time there would be no forgiveness.” As part of its mandate, the fact-finding mission will be closely observing the events before and after the presidential inauguration on January 10.

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