Statement at the 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Delivered by Marysabel Rodriguez, Espacio Público
Thank you, Mr. President.
CIVICUS and Espacio Publico welcome the report of the High Commissioner on Venezuela. In Venezuela, the repressive machinery that has enabled serious human rights violations remains intact.
Hundreds of people remain arbitrarily detained and subjected to deeply flawed criminal proceedings, without evidence or without respect for due process guarantees. Their families are threatened, misled by the authorities and repeatedly denied information about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Enforced disappearance remains a recurring practice. Transfers from one detention centre to another occur without prior notice or official notification. Trials are held behind closed doors, the press is denied access.
Freedom of expression is severely restricted.
As of early June 2026, Manuel Sánchez, a community leader from Caracas, remains detained after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for criticising police officers on TikTok.
Yorman Acevedo has spent five months deprived of his liberty after commenting about the detention of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores on 3rd January.
As of early June 2026, Renny González, has been detained since 2024 solely for belonging to a WhatsApp group.
Restrictive legislation remains in force, including the Law against Hate, the Simón Bolívar Law, and the Anti-NGO Law, alongside the blocking of over 60 media websites and digital platforms.
We call on this Council to condemn the use of anti-terrorism laws to dismantle civil society, to renew the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission, and to redouble efforts to establish an office of the High Commissioner in the country with a full and clearly defined mandate and genuine access to victims.
Thank you.
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The statement was not broadcasted due to the technical issues.
Civic space in Venezuela is rated closed by the CIVICUS Monitor
