Enforced disappearance has been described as one of the most serious and cruel human rights violations, and is recognized under international law as a crime against humanity. This state-sanctioned practice of detaining people while refusing to acknowledge their fate is particularly alarming because it removes victims from the full protection of the law and enables further harm, including torture and extrajudicial killings.
In a new report co-published with Foro Penal, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights documents how Venezuela’s Bolivarian regime has strategically used enforced disappearances to silence political opponents and other critical voices it deems a threat.
The first of its kind analysis, available in English and Spanish, examines over 700 cases of enforced disappearances in 2018 and 2019, offering rare insights into the regime’s patterns, priorities, and perceived threats.