UN Reports Allege Continued Torture of Detainees in Venezuela Post-Maduro

Tue Mar 17 2026 21:41:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, voices concerns over ongoing reports of torture among detainees in Venezuela, even after the country's political transition following Nicolás Maduro's ousting.

In the wake of Nicolás Maduro's removal from power, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, reports persisting human rights violations, including torture in Venezuelan detention centers. While the new administration has passed an amnesty law, arbitrary detentions and allegations of torture remain prevalent. The Venezuelan government's previous dismissals of such allegations complicate the narrative surrounding human rights in the nation.

Reports alleging that detainees have continued to be tortured in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in January are concerning, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says.

Maduro has been replaced in power by one of his loyal allies, former Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, under whose leadership an amnesty bill has been passed into law.

Türk welcomed the amnesty law but warned that structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted in Venezuela despite Maduro's ousting.

Venezuelan officials have not yet reacted publicly to Türk's remarks but have in the past dismissed allegations of torture as politically motivated.

Türk said many Venezuelans remained in arbitrary detention despite the passing of the amnesty law last month, adding that there was a child among those arbitrarily detained.

Last week, the Venezuelan parliament, dominated by Maduro loyalists, claimed that over 7,700 people had been granted full freedom under the amnesty law; however, rights group Foro Penal reported confirming the release of fewer than 700 detainees.

Türk urged greater transparency from Venezuelan authorities and noted his office's ongoing requests for official lists of the released prisoners, as well as access to various detention centers, which have gone unfulfilled.

The independent fact-finding mission on Venezuela reported receiving continued testimonies regarding human rights violations, including torture and mistreatment of detainees.

Despite the government’s denial of these reports, the UN continues to press for accountability and reform in light of evidence suggesting grave human rights violations persist.