International fact-finding mission: Serious human rights violations during Venezuela's 2024 elections

Helena Carplo

The report, which expanded on the mission's September 20 report to the UN Human Rights Council, uncovered numerous human rights violations and acts of violence committed by the Venezuela government, security forces, and pro-government civilian armed groups in the run-up to the country's controversial July presidential election.

Human rights violations are on the rise

According to the mission, 25 people have been shot dead and hundreds injured in recent violence, and thousands have been arrested simply for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression.

These human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, short-term enforced disappearances, and sexual violence, are part of the government's systematic campaign to silence critics and opponents, the report shows. The victims included not only adult citizens, but also children and people with disabilities.

The report notes that many detainees are forced to confess to being involved in serious crimes such as terrorism after being threatened with torture. The situation of these victims, especially children and adolescents in detention, is extremely vulnerable due to the lack of hard evidence and the right to choose a lawyer.

In its report, the mission focuses on victims' testimonies and lists a number of representative cases, noting that some of the serious human rights violations uncovered during the investigation continue the pattern of crimes against humanity previously identified by the mission.

Call to action and international support

The Mission reiterates its call on the Government of Venezuela to release all persons arbitrarily detained, respecting their physical and mental health and their right to due process. The report notes that the international community and relevant United Nations agencies should pay special attention to the protection of children's rights in such situations.

The mission welcomed the recent decision of the Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the mission for two years, and said it would continue to investigate the human rights situation before and after the 2024 presidential elections and continue to monitor related violence by armed groups.

International Independent Fact-Finding Mission

In September 2019, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to assess alleged human rights violations in the country since 2014. The Human Rights Council subsequently adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the mission until September 2024.