UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, on Tuesday reiterated deep concerns that the military operation undermined fundamental protections for sovereign countries, noting that Venezuela’s people must be heard.

Mr Türk said this while responding to the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States.

The U.S. action made “all states less safe around the world”, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the high commissioner, said.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Ms Shamdasani rejected the U.S. justification for its intervention on the grounds of the Venezuelan government’s “longstanding and appalling” human rights record.

“Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law,” she stated. “Far from being a victory for human rights, this military intervention, which is in contravention of Venezuelan sovereignty and the UN Charter, damages the architecture of international security…And this is a point that the secretary-general has also made.”

Ms Shamdasani explained the high commissioner’s position that the military operation “violates the fundamental principle of international law (and) the UN Charter, which states that States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”.

The UN human rights office was expelled from Venezuela in February 2024, following its consistent reporting  on the deteriorating situation there.

Independent probes commissioned by the Human Rights Council have also detailed grave and ongoing abuses against opponents of the country’s ruling party.

“The people of Venezuela deserve accountability through a fair victim-centred process,” Ms Shamdasani said, adding that the rights of the Venezuelan people “have been violated for too long”.

The OHCHR spokesperson expressed concerns that the instability and further militarisation in the country in response to the US intervention might make the situation worse.

A state of emergency was declared on Saturday that restricts the free movement of people, the seizure of property necessary for national defence, and the suspension of the rights to assembly and protest, Ms Shamdasani noted.

“We’re particularly concerned, given the record that the government has in suppressing free speech, protest, freedom of assembly, using the pretext of national security.

“The high commissioner calls on the U.S. and the Venezuelan authorities, as well as the international community, to ensure full respect for international law, including human rights,” she said.

(NAN)