The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, released a 15-page report detailing severe flaws in Venezuela's judicial system, just days after the country's Supreme Court ordered opposition leader Juan Guaido to step down from his party role.
The document, commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council in September, underscores concerns over judicial independence, noting that judges and prosecutors face insecure tenure, opaque appointment processes, and political pressure. These factors, the report states, hinder the judiciary's ability to protect human rights and enable widespread impunity.
Venezuela's political crisis, which began in 2019 when Guaido declared himself interim president following allegations of electoral fraud in Nicolas Maduro's 2018 re-election, has led to international divisions. Over 60 countries, including the U.S., recognize Guaido as the legitimate leader, while Maduro retains control through a judiciary perceived as loyal to his regime.
Bachelet's office called for urgent reforms to ensure judicial independence, transparency, and accountability. Key recommendations include investigating human rights violations by security forces, ending military tribunals for civilians, and publishing detailed reports on deaths during protests in 2014, 2017, and 2019. The report also urged Venezuela to address high levels of impunity for crimes linked to protests, torture, and gender-based violence.
