SRFOE warns about the serious deterioration of the media ecosystem in Venezuela and urges the State to respect and guarantee freedom of expression and of the press

May 5, 2025

May XX, 2025

Washington D.C. - The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) warns the international community about the serious and progressive deterioration of the media ecosystem in Venezuela, as well as the growing climate of fear and self-censorship among journalists and citizens who seek to exercise their right to freedom of expression. The Office urges the Venezuelan State to respect and guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and of the press, in accordance with international human rights standards.

In 2025, the Office of the Special Rapporteur has maintained continuous monitoring of the situation of freedom of expression and press freedom in Venezuela. During the first months of the year, in coordination with the IACHR's Special Follow-up Mechanism for Venezuela (MESEVE), the Office has collected testimonies from journalists, press workers and Venezuelan civil society organizations dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights and freedom of expression in the country.

In particular, the Rapporteurship is concerned about the persistence of arbitrary detentions against journalists and press workers in Venezuela. Since the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, at least 12 journalists remain deprived of their liberty, six of whom have been detained thus far in 2025, allegedly in retaliation for carrying out their journalistic work. The Office has received particularly serious reports of the forced disappearance of Rory Branker, editor of the portal La Patilla, detained on February 20, whose whereabouts and state of health remain unknown; as well as of journalist José Gregorio Camero, detained on August 3, 2024, who, according to his relatives, is reportedly experiencing health issues. In most of the documented cases, the detained journalists face charges of incitement to hatred and terrorism, in proceedings that lack judicial guarantees, as has been pointed out by the IACHR.

In addition to arbitrary arrests, during the course of the year other aggressions against the press have been reported, including acts of violence in protests, raids, arbitrary cancellation of passports, extortion, obstruction of news coverage, stigmatization campaigns and threats coming from persons exercising public authority, particularly from the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Internal Relations, Justice and Peace, as well as from some governors' offices, especially in the states of Trujillo and Táchira. In the first months of 2025, there were also new raids and closures of radio stations, such as Criolla 100.7 FM in Bolívar, Victoria 100.9 FM and Stilos 93.1 FM in Portuguesa, and Radio Mundial 860 AM in Táchira.

On the other hand, between July 4, 2024 and January 31, 2025, civil society organizations documented at least 79 blockages to websites of media, civil organizations, social networks and platforms with content critical of the government. They also denounced online aggressions, including threats coming from official accounts of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (DIP), the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), in addition to official propaganda and disinformation campaigns. Also reported was the use of surveillance technologies such as facial recognition, drones and data collection through state-owned platforms, together with random searches of cell phones in public streets, in order to control and dissuade citizen participation. The SRFOE points out that these acts are not isolated, but part of a systematic pattern by the government to control the public narrative, restrict the flow of information, silence critical voices and hinder mobilization and social protest, which has contributed to consolidate a generalized climate of fear in the Venezuelan population.

The Rapporteurship observes that the political repression and persecution following the July 28, 2024 elections have consolidated an increasingly hostile environment for the press, marking a turning point in the practice of journalism in Venezuela. The testimonies collected describe a significant increase in self-censorship and fear of reprisals, which has led journalists to adopt self-protection measures, such as ceasing their work, avoiding coverage of certain topics, moving internally or going into exile. In exile, they face serious difficulties to continue their work and reintegrate into the labor market. In addition, journalists and organizations have expressed their concern about the deterioration of the media ecosystem, especially at the local level, exacerbated by cuts in international technical cooperation funds. The Office warns that this situation jeopardizes the sustainability of Venezuelan media and limits access to crucial information on the human rights situation in the country, both nationally and internationally.

According to the information received, there has also been a growing fear among citizens, whose right to seek, receive and share information, particularly critical information, has been restricted. This situation, aggravated by whistleblowing practices at the community level as part of a state strategy of persecution of dissident voices, has contributed to the deterioration of the social fabric, reflected in a generalized loss of trust and the reduction of spaces for communication in daily life.

In this context, the Office of the Special Rapporteur reaffirms that the work of journalists and independent media is fundamental for the consolidation and functioning of democratic societies, by guaranteeing plural and open public debate, accountability and access to information for citizens. The Office reiterates that attacks aimed at silencing critical voices or inhibiting citizen participation in matters of public interest constitute a clear violation of human rights and the fundamental principles of the rule of law.

Therefore, the Rapporteurship urges the Venezuelan authorities to immediately cease attacks against the press and against those who exercise their right to freedom of expression, including the cessation of arbitrary detentions and the release of all persons detained for political reasons. It also reiterates its call to the international community to maintain active vigilance over the human rights situation in the country and to express its strongest rejection of the violations of freedom of expression in Venezuela.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of the democratic system.

No. R088/25

11:36 AM