Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Foro Penal have published a new report illustrating how the Venezuelan government systematically uses the criminal justice system to persecute critical voices, human rights defenders and perceived political opponents.
The report, available in both English and Spanish, analyzes more than 480 arbitrary detentions that took place between January 2020 and October 2021. It highlights a disturbing pattern of enforced disappearance, torture and other human rights violations carried out by State agents to criminalize, repress and terrorize anyone perceived as a critical voice or political dissident.
The report includes case studies of these human rights abuses, including: criminalization of human rights activists (i.e. case FUNDAREDES, Azul Positivo); disappearance and torture (i.e. GEDO case); and violation to the right to defense and access to counsel of choice (i.e. Gideon-operation).