Join our Whatsapp channel
Independent experts have called on the Venezuelan government to take immediate action to address the growing issue of enforced disappearances, particularly in the run-up to the 2024 presidential elections and beyond. The experts warned that the country’s domestic institutions are failing to process complaints related to missing persons, forcing victims and their families to turn to international mechanisms for justice.
Enforced disappearances are increasingly being used as a tool to silence political opposition, pro-democracy activists, and human rights defenders, creating a climate of fear across the nation. The experts highlighted that these disappearances are not limited to isolated incidents but form a systemic pattern, with various Venezuelan authorities, including the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), the National Guard, and the judiciary, allegedly involved in concealing the fate of the missing.
The experts urged the Venezuelan government to comply with precautionary measures set out by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and to respond to requests from the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. They also emphasised the need for the government to provide information about those forcibly disappeared, prevent future disappearances, and bring those responsible to justice.
Human rights activists and relatives of the missing continue to face challenges in obtaining information or justice for their loved ones. Legal applications, including habeas corpus, are often ignored or dismissed. The experts stressed that denying detainees their basic rights, such as access to family, legal counsel, and due process, amounts to enforced disappearance under international law.
The international community continues to monitor the situation, pressing for Venezuela to honour its obligations under international human rights law to protect its citizens from this gross violation.
