UN Mission Finds Venezuelan National Guard Committed Systematic Abuses

UN Fact-Finding Mission Uncovers Systematic Abuses by Venezuela’s National Guard

A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard committed grave and systematic human rights violations over more than a decade, intensifying global scrutiny of President Nicolás Maduro’s security establishment. The report’s publication coincides with heightened international focus on María Corina Machado , the newly awarded Nobel Peace Prize laureate who remains in hiding amid threats to her safety.

National Guard Implicated in Widespread Repression

According to investigators, the national guard acted as a key instrument of state persecution, targeting political opponents through arbitrary killings, unlawful detentions, torture, sexual violence and other forms of inhumane treatment. These abuses, observed during protests and targeted crackdowns dating back to 2014 , formed part of a deliberate state strategy to suppress dissent and consolidate political control.

Structural Impunity and Institutional Failure

The mission documented extensive institutional decay within Venezuela’s political and judicial systems. A centralised chain of command under Maduro enabled abuses to continue unchecked. Officials allegedly planted evidence, used excessive force and operated detention sites as spaces for coercion, intimidation and enforced silence. The report concluded that the judiciary remains either unable or unwilling to ensure accountability.

Political Backdrop and International Response

The findings were released as Machado prepares to address the world from Oslo following her Nobel recognition for challenging authoritarianism in Venezuela. Many Western and Latin American governments have refused to acknowledge the disputed 2024 election that granted Maduro a third term. The UN report adds momentum to calls for international oversight as Venezuela faces deepening political and humanitarian turmoil.

Wider Consequences for Venezuela’s Crisis

With more than seven million Venezuelans having fled since 2013, the mission warns that national guard repression has contributed significantly to the country’s collapse. The report strengthens demands for international justice mechanisms to address state-led abuses and promote accountability.

Exam Point

• UN fact-finding mission created by UNHRC in 2019 .

• Documented abuses: killings, torture, sexual violence, arbitrary detention .

• Violations occurred during major protests in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024 .

• 7+ million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2013.