
The Venezuelan National Assembly, controlled by President Nicolás Maduro’s party, has unanimously declared UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk persona non grata following his public denunciations of arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and torture in Venezuela.
At a Glance
- The Assembly’s declaration follows Türk’s address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva denouncing Venezuela’s crackdown and human rights abuses.
- Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez labeled Türk a hypocrite for ignoring deported Venezuelans in El Salvador and demanded his resignation.
- Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab echoed the condemnation, accusing Türk of politically motivated bias.
- The resolution includes proposals for Venezuela to leave the UN Human Rights Council and potentially re-expel the UN office in Caracas.
- Caracas previously expelled the UN mission in February 2024 under Maduro after Türk condemned the arrest of activist Rocío San Miguel.
A Clash Over Credibility and Sovereignty
The move, while symbolic, delivers a sharp rebuke to the UN human rights watchdog. Volker Türk had recently criticized Venezuela’s detention of activists and systematic abuses in a speech to the Human Rights Council. In response, Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez lashed out, accusing Türk of hypocrisy and ignoring abuses faced by Venezuelan deportees imprisoned in El Salvador.
The declaration includes a proposal to suspend Venezuela’s participation in the UN Human Rights Council—a dramatic step that would signal full disengagement from international accountability mechanisms. According to El País, this move mirrors the government’s prior decision to expel the UN office in Caracas in 2024.
Watch a report: Venezuela expels UN human rights envoy
Expulsions and Escalations
Caracas has already shown its willingness to sever ties with oversight agencies. After the February 2024 arrest of activist Rocío San Miguel, Türk condemned the move—leading the Maduro government to eject the UN human rights team from the country. Though they returned by year’s end, tensions have remained high.
Now, with Prosecutor Tarek William Saab echoing Rodríguez’s demand for Türk’s resignation and suggesting legal action against the UN office, the fate of human rights monitoring in Venezuela hangs in the balance.
Whether this declaration leads to another expulsion or a complete withdrawal from the Human Rights Council, the underlying message is unmistakable: Maduro’s government is determined to confront—and ultimately discard—any semblance of international oversight, all in the name of defending state sovereignty. This move signifies a bold stance by the Venezuelan authorities, suggesting a willingness to prioritize national autonomy over international norms and accountability.
Such actions not only illustrate the growing tension between the Maduro administration and global institutions but also raise critical concerns about the implications for human rights within the country. The reinforced emphasis on sovereignty hints at a broader strategy to diminish the influence of external entities, indicating a significant shift in diplomatic relations and the ongoing struggle for political legitimacy on the global stage.