Following the illegal invasion of Venezuela and the abduction of its head of state by US forces on 3 January 2026, global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges respect for international law and the UN Charter.
“We are entering a dangerous era of imperialist power grabs and might is right conduct in international affairs which could ignite even more violent conflict around the globe, this time with devastating consequences. Unilateral military actions that violate the UN Charter are illegal,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Secretary General of CIVICUS.
CIVICUS urges the international community and rights respecting states to refer the Venezuela dispute to an international tribunal and condemn the illegal and unilateral military actions of the Trump administration which could set a dangerous precedent.
“We reject inflammatory rhetoric being put out by the Trump administration which has already carried out extra-judicial executions of over 100 people in international waters in the name of combatting drug trafficking,” said Tiwana. "Suggestions that oil companies will play a role in determining the future of Venezuela undermine the will of the Venezuelan people which should be paramount.”
US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro have a history of undermining the will of the people. Both have presided over steep declines in civic freedoms in their countries by attacking independent media and civil society groups. Maduro stole the 2024 presidential election in Venezuela while Trump attempted to steal the 2020 presidential elections in the United States but was thwarted by public officials and the courts.
CIVICUS currently lists Venezuela in the worst ‘closed’ category on the CIVICUS Monitor which indicates complete closure – in law and practice – of civic space. An atmosphere of fear and violence prevails where powerful state and non-state actors are routinely allowed to imprison, seriously injure and kill people with impunity for attempting to exercise their right to associate, assemble peacefully and express themselves.
The United States was downgraded to the ‘obstructed’ category on the CIVICUS Monitor in 2025 on account of the Trump administration’s moves to defund civil society organisations, attacks on critics and protestors, and rise in intimidation of critical journalists and media groups.
CIVICUS urges the United States Government to refrain from reckless destabilising actions and abide by the principles of the UN Charter, the US Constitution and the International Bill of Rights.
CIVICUS urges the Venezuelan Government to refrain from using the current state of emergency as an excuse to persecute critics and to respect international human rights standards and the will of the people.
