MEXICO CITY (AP) – A global human rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has called on the United States and other governments to enhance their support for individuals striving for democratic reform in Venezuela. The organization has specifically urged the U.S. to hold President Nicolás Maduro accountable for the intensified crackdown on dissent following last year's presidential election, which was marred by significant allegations of illegitimacy.
HRW emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to consider imposing additional sanctions against Venezuelan government officials and state security forces. The call for sanctions extends to armed groups allied with Maduro's ruling party, which have been linked to widespread violations of human rights after the disputed election held on July 28, 2024. Maduro's government has declared him the winner, despite credible evidence suggesting otherwise.
In conjunction with these recommendations, HRW also urged the U.S. administration to rescind an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in February that imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its investigations into Israel. HRW suggested that this order could negatively impact an ongoing ICC investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Venezuela.
According to HRW's report, the sanctions intended to intimidate ICC officials might inadvertently affect the rights of victims globally. The organization criticized the Trump administration for not explicitly opposing the ICC's involvement in Venezuela, stressing that these sanctions could hinder broader cooperation regarding human rights issues.
The findings from HRW shed light on Venezuela's repressive measures post-election, documenting severe abuses against political opposition members, demonstrators, and innocent bystanders. State security forces and ruling party-affiliated armed groups have been implicated in killings, torture, and other forms of violence throughout the period of unrest following the election.
The Venezuelan National Electoral Council, dominated by Maduro's supporters, announced his re-election without providing detailed vote counts justifying the result. However, opposition figures collected tally sheets from 85% of electronic voting machines, revealing that their candidate, Edmundo González, won with a margin exceeding two to one. Both U.N. experts and the U.S.-based Carter Center confirmed the legitimacy of the opposition's tally sheets.
In the immediate aftermath of the election, over 2,000 individuals were detained, and many faced charges related to terrorism and incitement. Reports indicate that numerous detainees, including opposition members and foreign nationals, were subjected to enforced disappearances. While many detainees have since been released, dozens affiliated with opposition factions remain imprisoned.
RT's report references statistics provided by the opposition party Vente Venezuela, which revealed that 285 individuals linked to opposition parties were arrested between November 2023 and April 2025, after a presidential primary election held by Maduro's opponents. As of April 10, 2025, only 100 of those arrested have been released.
Furthermore, HRW urged international governments to engage with the Maduro regime as a means of encouraging verifiable progress on human rights issues. This engagement should focus on releasing individuals who have been arbitrarily detained, disclosing whereabouts of all detainees, and addressing cases built on fabricated violations.
The organization also called on the U.S. government to restore funding for humanitarian and human rights initiatives in Venezuela. HRW noted that the previous Trump administration's policy decisions to halt foreign assistance have adversely affected crucial organizations working in Venezuela to support independent journalism and provide legal assistance to those detained arbitrarily.
