IACHR expresses concern over armed incursion in Venezuela, calls for respect for international law, and the end of repression

January 13, 2026

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its deep concern regarding the events related to the United States armed raid into Venezuela and the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to place them at the disposal of the U.S. justice system. While the Commission has documented serious human rights violations, as well as the breakdown of the democratic order and the rule of law in the country prior to the US operation, it reaffirms that any process of democratic restoration must be carried out with full respect for international law.

The history of the region, rigorously documented by the Commission over decades, has shown that failure to observe international law often leads to a greater likelihood of human rights violations. For this reason, the Commission underscores the importance of applying international law with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, the principles of non-intervention and non-aggression, the prohibition of the use of force, and the comprehensive protection of human rights, as established in the OAS Charter and the United Nations Charter.

According to figures reported by the press, the armed raid in Venezuela resulted in at least 75 deaths, including 32 Cuban nationals who were part of the security team guarding Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as an undetermined number of injured persons. However, the IACHR warns that these figures have not been officially confirmed.

Over the past 25 years, the IACHR has carried out continuous and systematic monitoring of the human rights situation in the country, documenting a progressive deterioration of the rule of law, democratic institutions, and fundamental guarantees. In particular, following serious allegations of fraud in the 2024 elections, the Commission concluded that the government of Nicolás Maduro lacked democratic legitimacy and documented serious and systematic violations perpetrated by the regime, including 25 deaths, more than 2,000 arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, censorship, political persecution, and practices of state terrorism, as well as corruption and the co-optation of state institutions—all aimed at consolidating power.

These serious and systematic human rights violations, combined with the country’s economic and social crisis, have contributed to one of the largest migration and refugee flows in the world, affecting more than seven million people.

The IACHR warns that, in a context of absence of the rule of law, shrinking civic space, and obstacles to freedom of expression, access to verifiable information remains restricted. This situation is further aggravated by fear among individuals, the dissemination of propaganda by various institutions, ongoing digital blockages, and the circulation of deliberately altered content for disinformation purposes from different sectors of the region.

In this context, since January 3, information has been received regarding the detention of at least 14 journalists at border points and in the vicinity of the headquarters of the National Assembly in Caracas, as well as the patrolling of armed groups known as “Colectivos” in various locations, including areas where the press was present. The Commission and its Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression (RELE) underscore the fundamental importance of journalistic work in guaranteeing the public’s right to be informed and the exercise of human rights defense. In this regard, they urge the Venezuelan regime to ensure full conditions for the practice of journalism, free from censorship, threats, reprisals, or undue restrictions, and to protect human rights defenders.

Additionally, the Venezuelan regime enacted Decree No. 5,200, which declares a State of External Commotion, significantly expands the participation of the armed forces in public security tasks, and establishes severe restrictions on freedom of expression and democratic participation, including provisions authorizing the search for and detention of persons accused of promoting or supporting the events, thereby increasing the risk of human rights violations.

In this regard, the Commission calls for the full guarantee of the human rights of the Venezuelan people. The IACHR reiterates its deep concern over the situation of persons deprived of liberty for political reasons or dissent, including leaders of parties and movements, human rights defenders, and journalists, who, according to reports from civil society, have suffered systematic human rights violations.

The IACHR takes note of the release of seven persons detained for political reasons, which took place on January 8, including Rocío San Miguel, as well as four beneficiaries of precautionary measures granted by the Commission. The Commission expresses its solidarity with the released persons and their families following a period of serious violations of their human rights, and recalls the State’s obligation to guarantee personal liberty and due process. It also urges the Venezuelan regime to immediately release all persons who remain deprived of liberty for political reasons and to cease the use of arbitrary detention as a tool of persecution.

The Commission and its Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) express concern over the impact of the crisis on the effective enjoyment of economic and social rights, in light of information regarding limitations on access to food, transportation, electricity, health care, and drinking water. In this context, they urge the Venezuelan regime to ensure the continuous, effective, and non-discriminatory functioning of essential services, adopting urgent protective measures for persons in situations of heightened vulnerability.

Finally, the IACHR reiterates that it will continue to closely monitor the situation in Venezuela through all its mechanisms and reaffirms its full willingness to conduct an in loco visit, with the aim of directly assessing the human rights situation on the ground and formulating recommendations aimed at their effective protection, for the benefit of the Venezuelan population.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 007/26

9:30 AM