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, says the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
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 noted many Venezuelans remain in arbitrary detention despite the passing of the amnesty law last month, adding that there was a child among those arbitrarily detained.
The Venezuelan parliament, dominated by Maduro loyalists, said over 7,700 people had been granted full freedom under the amnesty law. However, rights group Foro Penal has confirmed the release of fewer than 700 detainees, highlighting a significant discrepancy.
Türk has urged greater transparency from Venezuela's authorities and requested official lists of those released along with access to several detention centers. He reported that his office has received information about continued torture in multiple detention centers.
Despite the amnesty law, the human rights crisis in Venezuela continues to raise alarms as evidence emerges of ongoing mistreatment and arbitrary detention.
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 noted many Venezuelans remain in arbitrary detention despite the passing of the amnesty law last month, adding that there was a child among those arbitrarily detained.
The Venezuelan parliament, dominated by Maduro loyalists, said over 7,700 people had been granted full freedom under the amnesty law. However, rights group Foro Penal has confirmed the release of fewer than 700 detainees, highlighting a significant discrepancy.
Türk has urged greater transparency from Venezuela's authorities and requested official lists of those released along with access to several detention centers. He reported that his office has received information about continued torture in multiple detention centers.
Despite the amnesty law, the human rights crisis in Venezuela continues to raise alarms as evidence emerges of ongoing mistreatment and arbitrary detention.
