In a recent report published by independent UN human rights experts, damning evidence suggests that Venezuela's government has escalated the use of "harshest and most violent" methods of repression following the controversial July presidential election. The report, commissioned by the UN-backed Human Rights Council, uncovers numerous human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and gender-based violence, which, when taken together, signify crimes against humanity.

The findings of the fact-finding mission on Venezuela cover a one-year period leading up to August 31 and shed light on the post-election period following the disputed July 28 vote. The official results of the election garnered widespread criticism, accused of being undemocratic, opaque, and a means to consolidate President Nicolás Maduro's grip on power.

According to the report, the state apparatus in Venezuela reactivated and intensified its repressive mechanisms significantly after the election. The experts noted that the violations amounted to a deliberate campaign to persecute individuals on political grounds. Instances of arbitrary arrests and detentions, including the arrest of over 2,200 people, among them 158 children, were particularly alarming to the experts.

Marta Valiñas, head of the expert team, highlighted the concerning trend of specifically targeting children and individuals with disabilities, many who were falsely accused of serious crimes such as terrorism. She described the systematic, coordinated, and deliberate repression as a conscious effort to quash any form of dissent within the country.

Venezuela's government has repeatedly refused to recognize the mandate of the fact-finding mission, and the country's diplomatic mission in Geneva declined to comment on the report. However, it is likely that the Venezuelan government will respond to the report's findings during its presentation to the Human Rights Council later this week.

The UN report aligns with concerns raised by various entities, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Human Rights Watch, regarding the state of democracy in Venezuela. The experts' findings also touched upon the flight into exile of Venezuela's opposition leader, Edmundo González, following the election.

The report emphasizes the lack of transparency and credibility surrounding the July 28 election, with opposition supporters presenting evidence suggesting that González received more than double the number of votes attributed to Maduro. However, the National Electoral Council, controlled by Maduro loyalists, declared Maduro as the winner with 52% of the vote. Efforts to audit the results following global concerns were conducted by Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose members are aligned with the ruling party, further affirming Maduro's victory.

This fifth report by the independent experts, who have been monitoring rights violations in Venezuela since 2019, highlights the Venezuelan government's relentless crusade to suppress peaceful opposition and maintain its grip on power. The experts note that the justice system, particularly the Supreme Tribunal, operates in favor of Maduro, serving as a key instrument in suppressing political and social opposition.

The report also sheds light on the response of Maduro's government to post-election protests, where thousands took to the streets across Venezuela. While the protests were largely peaceful, the government responded with excessive force, leading to arbitrary arrests, prosecutions, and even encouraging citizens to report their relatives or neighbors who participated in the protests or expressed doubts about the election results.

The fact-finding mission compiled the report through interviews with 383 individuals, reviews of court case files, and other relevant documents, although they faced limitations in information-gathering during the post-election period. Despite repeated requests for information, Venezuelan authorities did not cooperate with the experts' inquiries.

The findings of the UN report on Venezuela underscore the urgent need for international attention and action to address the escalating repression and human rights violations committed by the government.