Venezuela: The Observatory (OMCT-FIDH) report denounces systematic repression of human rights defenders

The report documents over 1,730 attacks against human rights defenders and civil society organisations in the context of social and labour demands between 2022 and 2023, as well as the 2024 presidential elections. These attacks include harassment, defamation and stigmatization, censorship, arbitrary detentions, restriction of labour rights, physical aggression, forced disappearance, and intimidation, among others. Of these aggressions, 78.1% were perpetrated directly by state actors.

Protests by public sector workers, particularly in the health and education sectors, were systematically repressed by security forces and armed civilian groups sympathetic to the government. Between January 2022 and December 2023, more than 763 demonstrations linked to wage demands and decent working conditions were registered in these sectors. In response, at least 60 union leaders were arbitrarily detained, and dozens of people reported constant surveillance and intimidation.

The 2024 electoral process took place in a context marked by intimidation, persecution, and the disqualification of opposition candidates. On July 28, after the announcement of the official results, at least 900 protests were recorded across the country, many of which were violently repressed by the security forces, leaving 25 people dead, more than 2,300 arbitrary detentions – including 33 children and more than 200 women – allegations of torture, and several cases of forced disappearance.

The situation worsened with the beginning of "Operation Tun-tun," a campaign of selective state persecution activated two days after the elections. This operation targeted social leaders, political opponents, human rights defenders, journalists, and citizens who expressed discontent with the electoral process or its results. Some arrests were publicised to generate fear in the population. Security forces carried out warrantless raids and mass arrests, consolidating a climate of widespread terror.

Olga Guzman, Head of the Americas Desk at the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), explains that "the Venezuelan government is subjecting its population to a torturing environment, creating a collective and individual experience that conditions the behaviour of the populace through terror and fear of being subjected to human rights violations, thus inhibiting political participation and freedom of expression of Venezuelans".

For her part, Jimena Reyes, Director for the Americas at FIDH, affirms that "arbitrary detentions and harassment continue to be wielded by the regime to intimidate, delegitimise, and inhibit the work of human rights defenders. Recent cases, such as the detention of Mr. Carlos Correa, director of the NGO 'Espacio Público', the judicial harassment faced by Mr. Oscar Murillo, coordinator of the organisation 'PROVEA', and the cancellation of passports of human rights defenders, illustrate the policy of selective persecution against those who expose human rights violations in Venezuela".

The report's conclusions highlight the urgent need for the Venezuelan state to take immediate steps to cease human rights violations and end all practical restrictions on the right to freedom of association. It calls on the international community to maintain vigilance over the situation in Venezuela and use all diplomatic and institutional channels to protect human rights defenders and promote a return to a democratic rule of law.

Contact:

• Francesca Pezzola, OMCT Director of Communications, fpe@omct.org

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Please see the Executive Summary of the report in English.