A report published on July 4 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), led by Volker Türk, revealed that only 47 state security officials were sentenced for cases of torture and mistreatment of prisoners in 2022, from a total of 362 people accused.
The document covers the period from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, and notes that none of the 91 cases followed by OHCHR have resulted in a trial against the alleged perpetrators.
According to the report, “OHCHR recalls that absence or prolonged delay in investigating allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment may constitute a separate violation of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, and of the right to effective remedies of victims.”
The investigation also revealed worrying findings about the human rights situation in Venezuela, including an examination of the situation of economic, social, environmental, and cultural rights and the civic space in Venezuela, in addition to an assessment of the implementation of the recommendations formulated by the UN in previous reports.
The information compiled by OHCHR is based on interviews with victims and witnesses, as well as meetings with government officials and civil society organizations.
Read the full report HERE.
Translated by José Rafael Medina
