GENEVA - UN experts* today said that the only way to restore democracy in Venezuela following the recent violation of its sovereignty and years of authoritarian rule, is to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, ensure accountability and self-determination, and guarantee the sovereign and sustainable use of their natural resources in line with international law.
The experts stressed the need for independent, impartial, thorough and prompt investigations and prosecution of human rights violations committed over the past twenty years to ensure justice, truth, accountability, and reparation for all victims, including those abroad. "An absolute priority must be determining the fate and whereabouts of the forcibly disappeared, the unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained, and robust protection against repression for civil society, journalists, human rights defenders including women human rights defenders who face heightened risks of intimidation and violence, and those perceived as opponents" they said.
Venezuela faces a severe humanitarian crisis and urgent action is required to establish safe, dignified livelihoods for its people, the experts stated.
"The future must be decided by Venezuelans alone, with the full, meaningful and equal participation of women, as well as the inclusion of Indigenous People, afro-Venezuelans and the millions forced to migrate, or seek asylum or refugee status because of the humanitarian crisis, human rights violations and political persecution," they said.
The experts unequivocally condemned the US military intervention as a deliberate violation of the UN Charter and international law. "It is gravely concerning that, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this marks the second time in four years that a Permanent Member of the Security Council has carried out an armed attack in flagrant violation of the UN Charter," they stated.
"The prohibition against violating national sovereignty through unprovoked armed attacks applies even in the context of serious human rights violations and restrictions on freedoms such as those documented in Venezuela," they added.
The experts noted that any unilateral decision by the US to place Venezuela temporarily under its control would violate international law and human rights, including the right to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
"The use of natural resources by the Venezuelan people must consider human rights, particularly those of indigenous peoples, the environment, and climate impacts, while prioritizing the needs of Venezuelans to reverse the complex humanitarian emergency," the experts stated.
They recalled that the International Court of Justice has reaffirmed the obligation of States to protect the climate system, warning that the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels may violate international law, and urged all parties with a legitimate interest to promote a just transition, while calling on companies to avoid contributing to the climate emergency and being complicit in human rights violations.
UN experts expressed concern about the human rights impact of Venezuela's declaration of a "state of external commotion" on January 3, 2026. During this critical period following the attack, it must be ensured that the state of emergency is implemented in accordance with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination; that it respects non-derogable rights under international law; and that it is not used to intensify aggression and/or the criminalization of individuals perceived as opponents.
"Democracy and rule of law cannot be sustainably restored without fundamental freedoms, separation of powers, judicial independence, an autonomous public prosecutor's office, and the demilitarization of civilian government."
"A lasting democracy requires accountability for human rights violations, reparations for victims, their participation in credible transitional justice processes, and the implementation of reforms necessary for a secure future and for guaranteeing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights," they stated. "Latin America is a zone of peace; The obligation to resolve conflicts peacefully and in accordance with international law must be respected. We express our willingness to provide technical support and to engage in constructive dialogue with all relevant actors."
