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United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk reported on Monday that systemic abuses, including torture and arbitrary detentions, persist in Venezuela following the U.S.-led ousting of Nicolás Maduro in January.
Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Turk revealed that his office has documented ongoing mistreatment of prisoners at several facilities, specifically naming the Rodeo 1 and Fuerte Guaicaipuro centres.
Despite the recent transition to an interim government under Delcy Rodríguez, the rights chief warned that structural concerns remain deeply entrenched.
#Venezuela: The authorities have moved to correct some of the wrongs of the past, but systemic human rights concerns persist. The country’s future must be decided by its people, and human rights must guide the way.
➡️ My update to @UN_HRC https://t.co/ZGHzW3A3zG pic.twitter.com/9orps5xISV
— Volker Türk (@volker_turk) March 16, 2026
While Turk acknowledged the passage of a new amnesty law—which the current government claims has freed over 7,000 people—he criticised the lack of transparency in the process.
His office has so far been unable to obtain an official list of those released or gain unrestricted access to detention centres.
Currently, the UN has only been able to confirm the release of approximately 950 individuals, many of whom remain under strict legal conditions.
The UN also expressed grave concern regarding the state of emergency declared after Maduro’s capture.
Turk noted that security forces and armed groups have allegedly used the decree to justify intrusive measures, fostering a “climate of fear” across the population.
He urged the interim authorities to ensure that security measures are proportional and called for the immediate release of those still held arbitrarily, including the elderly, the disabled, and at least one child.
