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In a new report, the Human Rights Council-mandated investigators described how security forces had raided dozens of homes of suspected critics of the Government \u201cjust using social media videos as the only evidence to arrest people\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Victims\u2019 testimonies gathered either side of the disputed Presidential election on 28 July which returned Mr. Maduro to office for the third time pointed to \u201cone of the most acute human rights crises in recent history<\/strong>\u201d, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela further maintained.<\/p>\n Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Marta Vali\u00f1as, Chair of the investigation, insisted that that its latest findings were \u201coverwhelming: not only have there been no improvements, but the violations have intensified, reaching unprecedented levels of violence<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n The independent rights expert described \u201can intensification of the State\u2019s repressive machinery\u201d with regard to its critics which represented \u201ca continuation of previous patterns\u201d that the independent rights panel had already condemned as likely crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n Following the re-election of Mr. Maduro \u2013 whose victory announcement prompted widespread protests across Venezuela – Ms. Vali\u00f1as said that the probe had confirmed 25 fatalities.<\/p>\n Most of the victims were \u201cyoung people under 30 years old from popular neighbourhoods. There are two children among them,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/strong>One of the deceased was a member of the Bolivarian National Guard, Ms. Vali\u00f1as noted, before adding that 24 \u201cdied from gunshot wounds [and] the other was beaten to death\u201d.<\/p>\n The fact-finding mission\u2019s latest report examines the human rights situation in Venezuela between September 2023 and August 2024. It points to a further deterioration of the rule of law following the presidential elections, while public authorities \u201chave abandoned all semblance of independence\u201d, leaving citizens \u201chelpless\u201d against the \u201carbitrary exercise\u201d of power.<\/p>\n \u201cWe documented more than 40 cases in which the security forces entered private homes without warrants, just using social media videos as the only evidence to arrest people who they thought had participated in protests or who had expressed criticism in social media,\u201d explained Francisco Cox Vial, Member of the fact-finding mission that was created by the Human Rights Council in 2019.<\/p>\n According to the independent investigators, more than 120 people were arrested in July in the context of opposition campaign events. In the first week of protests following the elections, based on figures released by the authorities, more than 2,000 people were detained.<\/p>\n Individuals included more than 100 children, some with disabilities, who faced accusations of terrorism and incitement to hatred and serious violations of due process, the investigators added.<\/p>\n \u201cOf the people detained in this period, many were subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as sexual violence which was perpetrated against women and girls, but also against men<\/strong> with reported electric shocks, beating with blunt objects, suffocation with plastic bags, immersion in cold water and forced sleep deprivation,\u201d said Patricia Tappat\u00e1 Valdez, member of the fact-finding mission.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had been able to verify that at least 143 of these arrests involved members of seven opposition parties, including 66 leaders of political movements,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n According to the rights probe, from December 2023 to March 2024, at least 48 people were detained on the grounds of \u201cso-called conspiracy theories\u201d against the Government, with arrest warrants issued for others. The individuals included military personnel, human rights defenders, journalists and political opposition representatives, the fact-finding mission said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot ignore that these violations represent a clear and deliberate line of conduct by the authorities of politically motivated persecution,\u201d said Mr. Cox Vial. \u201cWe have come to the conclusion that many of these allegations constitute crimes against humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nViolence and threats<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Grisly findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Children among those arrested<\/strong><\/h2>\n