The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed deep concerns about the current climate of fear in Venezuela. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urged the government to adhere to international human rights laws with transparency and to resolve ongoing disputes peacefully. This appeal follows numerous warnings from the UN and independent rights experts regarding the violent suppression of dissent within the country.
Shamdasani highlighted that individuals are being detained for exercising their rights to political participation, freedom of expression, and assembly. This statement came after authorities initiated the detention of Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition leader whose recent campaign against President Nicolas Maduro was unsuccessful. Maduro’s victory, announced following the July election, has been contested by opponents who cite a lack of credible voting numbers to support the official results.
Reports indicate that Gonzalez’s arrest was prompted by his campaign’s release of detailed polling data suggesting a significant win on his part. He faces multiple charges, including allegations of document forgery.
Despite the absence of a UN presence in Venezuela, Shamdasani noted ongoing communication and engagement with the local authorities. She emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to electoral disputes and highlighted the importance of protecting human rights for all individuals, regardless of their political views.
Additional findings from the Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission reported that recent protests following the elections were met with severe state-sponsored repression, resulting in at least 23 deaths, primarily from gunfire, between late July and early August. The mission cited that many of the victims were young men.
Last month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reported that over 2,400 individuals have been arrested in the wake of the elections. He underscored the troubling trend of detaining individuals for incitement or under terrorism laws, asserting that criminal law should not impede the rights to free expression, peaceful assembly, and association.