Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 16, 2026 Human rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk presented an oral report on the situation in Venezuela to the Human Rights Council on Monday.
Türk emphasized that the Venezuelan people are currently experiencing conflicting feelings: hope, fear, and profound uncertainty. The main event of recent months has been US military intervention, following which the Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency. According to Türk, this led to the expansion of powers for security forces and armed groups, heightening the atmosphere of fear among the population. The High Commissioner called on the government to review the state of emergency decree and ensure its compliance with the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Correcting the mistakes of the past
At the same time, the authorities took steps that Türk described as an attempt to "correct the mistakes of the past." An amnesty was declared in mid-February, but, as the High Commissioner noted, the corresponding law was drafted without sufficient public consultation.
According to the government, under amnesty Around 7,700 people were detained. The Office of the High Commissioner requested an official list of those released and access to several places of detention, but has not yet received a response. Türk emphasized the need for greater transparency.
Since the previous update, the Office has confirmed the release of approximately 950 people, including human rights defenders, journalists, trade unionists, and political figures. Türk emphasized that these individuals should not have been detained. He expressed hope that the practice of arbitrary detention will be permanently ended and that the authorities will ensure the protection of freedom of expression and the work of human rights defenders. Around 60 prisoners were able to contact their families for the first time in a long time.
Systemic problems
Despite some positive steps, systemic problems in the field of human rights persist. The Office continues to receive reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. Many people remain under arbitrary detention, including the elderly, people with disabilities, the seriously ill, and at least one child.
Civic space in Venezuela remains extremely limited: years of repression have left people afraid to openly express their opinions. The NGO oversight law continues to hinder the work of civil society and, according to Türk, should be repealed. He also expressed hope that a review of the "Anti-Hate Law" will lead to an end to its use to suppress dissent.
Socio-economic difficulties
Economic and social hardships continue to seriously impact the population. People face problems accessing healthcare, water, sanitation, and food. Protests against extremely low wages, which fail to cover basic needs, are taking place across the country.
Türk called on the authorities to ensure full respect for freedom of peaceful assembly. He paid particular attention to the situation of indigenous peoples, who face serious barriers to accessing healthcare and continue to suffer high mortality rates. There has been no progress in demarcating their territories.
The High Commissioner stressed that any economic reforms, including investments in the oil and gas sector and the extraction of critical minerals, must ensure the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people over their natural resources and serve the advancement of economic, social and cultural rights, as well as environmental protection.
The need for deep reforms
In his closing remarks, Türk outlined key areas of action that, he said, would shape the country's future. He called on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those remaining in arbitrary detention, expand civic space, and ensure the protection of journalists, human rights defenders, trade unions, and NGOs. The High Commissioner emphasized the need for deep reforms in the justice and security sectors, including the dismantling of legal mechanisms that allowed suppress political dissent.
Concluding his speech, Türk emphasized that Venezuela's future must be determined solely by its people. He called on the government, the opposition within and outside the country, and all political leaders to unite around human rights and put the interests of the people first.
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