Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report detailing serious human rights violations in Venezuela following the disputed 2024 presidential elections. The report, released in April 2025, documents killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and torture perpetrated by Venezuelan authorities and pro-government armed groups against protesters, opposition leaders, and critics.
Based on over 100 interviews and analysis of videos and photos, the HRW report, titled “Punished for Seeking Change,” highlights abuses since July 2024. These include at least 24 killings during post-election protests, primarily targeting young people from poor neighborhoods. Over 2,000 individuals linked to protests or the opposition have been detained and subjected to abusive legal processes, with many forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.
HRW's Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, stated that the Venezuelan government has engaged in killings, torture, detentions, and forced disappearances of those seeking democratic change. HRW urges the international community to support accountability for these human rights violations and ensure any engagement with the Maduro government seeks verifiable improvements in human rights. They also call for expanded protections for Venezuelans fleeing repression.