On September 23, 2024, Amnesty International urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of its fact-finding mission on Venezuela, following alarming findings presented in a recent report.
The report describes a severe human rights crisis in Venezuela, highlighting a deterioration of the rule of law after the July presidential elections. It concludes that the documented human rights violations could qualify as crimes against humanity based on political persecution.
Ana Piquer, Director for the Americas at Amnesty International, emphasized the need for effective action, stating that the Venezuelan population continues to resist the systematic repression by Nicolás Maduro's government, which has resulted in 20 deaths due to excessive force and thousands of arbitrary detentions.
During the ongoing 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which runs until October 11, member states are called to demonstrate their commitment to human rights in Venezuela by renewing the fact-finding mission's mandate and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' mandate.
Amnesty International praised regional efforts to present a resolution renewing both mandates to ensure rigorous monitoring and protection over the next two years, signaling that the international community is prepared to hold perpetrators accountable.