UN Fact Finding Mission Reports Unprecedented Violence and Rights Violations in Venezuela

On 17 September 2024, a UN-mandated investigation accused the Venezuelan government of escalating violence and repression to suppress opposition, highlighting arrests, torture, and sexual abuse as part of President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to stay in power. The report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela detailed the increasing severity of human rights abuses surrounding the contentious 28 July Presidential election, which saw Maduro re-elected for a third term amid widespread protests.

According to Marta Valiñas, Chair of the investigation, “the violations have intensified, reaching unprecedented levels of violence.” She pointed to a marked intensification of repressive tactics by state security forces, continuing patterns the mission had previously identified as possible crimes against humanity.

The report, covering the period from September 2023 to August 2024, documented at least 25 deaths in connection with post-election unrest, most of whom were young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Among the victims, two were children, and one was a member of the Bolivarian National Guard. The majority died from gunshot wounds, while one person was reportedly beaten to death.

In addition to fatal violence, the investigation found that security forces conducted over 40 warrantless raids, arresting individuals based on social media activity that was perceived as critical of the government. Over 120 individuals were detained during opposition events in July alone, while more than 2,000 were arrested in the first week following the election results. These figures include over 100 children, some of whom had disabilities and were charged with terrorism and incitement to hatred.

The mission also uncovered widespread allegations of torture, including electric shocks, beatings, suffocation, and forced sleep deprivation, with victims ranging from opposition members to ordinary citizens. Patricia Tappatá Valdez, a member of the mission, confirmed that sexual violence was used against both women and men during interrogations.

According to Francisco Cox Vial, another member of the mission, many of these abuses were politically motivated, targeting opposition leaders, military personnel, journalists, and human rights defenders. He stated, “These violations represent a clear and deliberate line of conduct by the authorities of politically motivated persecution,” concluding that many of the acts likely constitute crimes against humanity.

The Human Rights Council first established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela in 2019 to investigate severe human rights violations in the country.