Venezuela Human Rights Abuses Persist Despite Fact-Finding Mission

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A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that Venezuela’s human rights situation remains unchanged since the removal of its leader, Nicolas Maduro, in January. The mission, which includes Maria Eloisa Quintero as a member, delivered remarks to the UN Human Rights Council questioning whether Venezuela’s new leadership will face accountability for past human rights abuses.

Quintero stated that “civic and democratic space remains severely restricted” under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who took office on January 5. She also noted that civil society organizations, independent media outlets, and political actors continue to face attacks, harassment, or intimidation.

The fact-finding mission found that at least 87 people have been detained since January, including 14 journalists who were temporarily taken into custody while covering Rodriguez’s inauguration. Another 27 individuals were reportedly arrested for celebrating the fall of Maduro’s predecessor.

The report also revealed that at least 15 of the recent arrests involved children. Quintero emphasized that the US military operation to abduct Maduro on January 3 “violated international law.”

Quintero stated that while there have been some positive developments under Rodriguez, such as the release of political prisoners and passage of an amnesty law, these steps were mitigated by irregularities.

The fact-finding mission’s report was one of the first international assessments of human rights under Rodriguez’s presidency. The US has backed Rodriguez’s ascent to the presidency, but there is no immediate plan to hold a new election in Venezuela, citing the need for stability.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores currently remain imprisoned in New York, where they face charges of drug trafficking and weapons possession.

Source: Al Jazeera