The continuing human rights crisis in Venezuela saw further reports of extrajudicial executions, excessive use of force and unlawful killings by the security forces during the year. People expressing criticism of government policies – including political activists, journalists and health workers –...

Emirlendris Benítez is a 42 year-old mother, sister and tradeswoman who in August 2018 was arbitrarily detained for political reasons and subjected to torture in Venezuela. She now faces an unjust 30-year prison sentence in inhumane detention conditions and needs urgent medical care, including a...

On 24 January 2023, the Venezuelan National Assembly took its first step to approve a bill seeking to control, restrict, and potentially criminalise and close NGOs operating in Venezuela. If this bill passes, all Venezuelan NGOs will have to comply with abusive measures or face criminal...

On 22 June 2022, Marino Alvarado and Alfredo Infante reached a settlement with Carabobo state governor, Rafael Lacava, to drop his defamation lawsuit against both human rights defenders. The organizations they represent published a report exposing possible extrajudicial executions in Carabobo and...

On 16 May 2022, recognised Venezuelan human rights defenders Marino Alvarado and Alfredo Infante received notification of a defamation lawsuit filed against them by the governor of Carabobo state, Rafael Lacava. The lawsuit comes as a response to a report published in March by the NGOs Alvarado and...

Carlos Debiais, a Venezuelan photographer, was detained on 12 November 2021 and has been arbitrarily held in Caracas since 12 April 2022, when a release warrant was issued in his name. Carlos Debiais was filming in Falcón state when he was questioned by security personnel of the state-owned oil...

Javier Tarazona, Director of local NGO FundaREDES, was arbitrarily detained on 2 July 2021 after attempting to report harassment from security officers at the Attorney General’s Office in the city of Coro (Western Venezuela), and charged with inciting hatred, treason and “terrorism”. His pre-trial...

Javier Tarazona, Director of local NGO FundaREDES, remains detained by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), while Rafael Tarazona and Omar de Dios García, FundaREDES’ activists, were conditionally released on 26 October. All three were arbitrarily detained on 2 July 2021 after...

Javier Tarazona, Director of local NGO FundaREDES, Rafael Tarazona and Omar de Dios García, FundaREDES’ activists, were arbitrarily detained on 2 July 2021 after attempting to report harassment from security officers at the Attorney General’s Office in the city of Coro (Western Venezuela), and...

Venezuelan teacher and human rights defender Vannesa Rosales was released on 21 July 2021 after spending nine months detained, six of which under house arrest. She was criminalized for her work as a defender of sexual and reproductive rights in Venezuela. During the preliminary hearing held on 21...

Vannesa Rosales is a teacher and women and girls’ rights defender in the state of Mérida (West). On 12 October 2020, officers from the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations Unit (CICPC) broke into her home without a search warrant and detained her, violating due process guarantees. She is...

Javier Tarazona, Director of local NGO Fundaredes, and Omar de Dios García, Fundaredes’ activist, were arbitrarily detained on 2 July 2021 after attempting to report harassment from security officers at the Attorney General’s Office in the city of Coro (West). Both human rights defenders’...

On 3 May 2021, and after outrage from international and local civil society, as well as international organizations, the Venezuelan government issued a new administrative regulation reversing arbitrary provisions that threatened NGOs, survivors and beneficiaries in the country with criminalisation...