In brief
Recent reports from the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights indicated that allegations of detainee torture persist in Venezuela, despite the resignation of Nicolás Maduro and subsequent measures for amnesty. While Maduro's ally Delcy Rodríguez assumes power and an amnesty bill is made law, concerns remain about the integrity of human rights practices in the country. The UN is calling for transparency and has noted that many detainees, including children, are still being held arbitrarily.
Reports alleging that detainees have continued to be tortured in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in January are concerning, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says.
Maduro has been replaced in power by one of his loyal allies, former Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, under whose leadership an amnesty bill has been passed into law.
Türk welcomed the amnesty law but warned that structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted in Venezuela despite Maduro's ousting.
Venezuelan officials have not yet reacted publicly to Türk's remarks but have in the past dismissed allegations of torture as politically motivated.
Türk stated that many Venezuelans remained in arbitrary detention despite the passing of the amnesty law last month, and added that there was a child among those arbitrarily detained.
Last week, the Venezuelan parliament, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists, proclaimed that over 7,700 individuals had received full freedom under the amnesty law, although reports indicated that the majority were subject to measures such as house arrest or parole.
However, prisoners' rights group Foro Penal has only confirmed the release of fewer than 700 detainees and warns that more than 500 individuals remain imprisoned for political reasons.
Noting the discrepancy with government figures, Türk urged Venezuelan authorities for greater transparency. His office has requested an official list of those released and access to several detention centers, leading to no success thus far.
Türk also mentioned receiving information about the continued torture and mistreatment of detainees, including in the Rodeo 1 and Fuerte Guaicaipuro detention centers.
Shortly before, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela updated the UN Human Rights Council about ongoing human rights violations in the nation. This Mission reported receiving substantial evidence, including testimonies and documents, regarding continued abuses committed post-January 3.
In past reports, the Fact-Finding Mission has detailed numerous cases of torture, sexual violence, and other forms of inhumane treatment of detainees within Venezuelan detention facilities. Venezuelan authorities have consistently dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and driven by malicious interests.
