Protests in Venezuela. 2017. Photo from the archive Venezuela: Independent mission demands the release of “arbitrarily detained” Human Rights
Ahead of the presidential inauguration scheduled for January 10 in Venezuela, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission issued a statement demanding that the authorities respect the rights to life, liberty and security of all citizens. The mission called for the release of all those “arbitrarily detained” for participating in protests.
Right to Participate in Protests
“We urge the authorities to ensure that peaceful protests and freedom of expression can take place without fear of reprisals. We remind the security forces responsible for maintaining public order to strictly adhere to international standards on the use of force,” said Marta Valiñas, Chairperson of the FFM. “Any human rights violations must be promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigated and those responsible brought to justice in full compliance with the rule of law.”
Remarks following the announcement of election results
In its latest report to the Human Rights Council, the FFM documented violent repression of protests following the 28 July presidential election, which it described as one of the worst human rights crises in the country’s history. The protests began after the election results were announced, declaring President Nicolas Maduro the winner.
New Detentions
“The Mission has established that the repressive apparatus continues to function,” said Francisco Cox, the Fact-Finding Mission’s expert. “From August to December 2024, the authorities detained at least 56 political opposition activists, 10 journalists and one human rights defender. Those who order arbitrary detentions and the use of torture or other ill-treatment, as well as those who carry them out, bear individual criminal responsibility.”
In late December 2024, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported that 1,369 of the more than 2,500 people detained during the post-election crackdown had been released following a review of their cases. However, this figure could not be confirmed. According to the latest information from the NGO Foro Penal, 1,849 people remain in politically motivated detention. These people, as reported by the Mission, citing NGOs, face multiple violations, including their rights to food, health and access to basic legal guarantees.
Protection of the health of detainees
In addition to reiterating its demand for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons and the respect of Venezuela’s own laws, the Fact-Finding Mission stressed the State’s obligation to provide special protection to detainees with health problems, the elderly, and to take into account the interests of children still under investigation.
The mission notes that new detentions are taking place daily, and hundreds of people continue to be held in degrading prison conditions, subjected to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.
Persecution continues
“Released individuals, including children, continue to be held in pre-trial detention and accused of serious crimes such as terrorism or treason,” said Patricia Tappata, the Fact-Finding Mission’s expert. “The persecution of opponents of the government – or those it perceives as such – not only continues, but takes the form of a systematic attack on those who think differently.”
The Upcoming Inauguration
As part of its mandate, the Fact-Finding Mission pays particular attention to events occurring before and after the presidential inauguration. The Mission will investigate cases of serious human rights violations and crimes and analyse them in the context of the State’s policy of repressing the opposition, already identified in previous reports.
Independent Mission
In September 2019, the UN Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for a period of one year to assess alleged human rights violations committed since 2014. The Mission presented its latest annual report during an interactive dialogue to the Council in September 2024, accompanied by a document with detailed findings. By resolution 57/36, the Council extended the Mission’s mandate for two years, until October 2026.