United Nations Human Rights Council
63rd Regular Session
Agenda Item 4
Oral statement of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in the interactive dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the situation in Venezuela
18 September 2026
Mister President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) welcomes the work of the FFM on Venezuela and its affirmation of the persistence of widespread human rights violations. Despite recent political developments, the implication of the FFM’s findings is that the conditions that led this Council to establish the Mission remain largely unaltered.
The ICJ condemns the continued arbitrary detention of a large number of individuals for political reasons in spite of the Amnesty Law. Most released persons continue to face prosecution by a justice system that lacks independence and is unable or unwilling to hold persons responsible for gross human rights violations constituting crimes under international law.
The announced reform of the Supreme Court and the justice system is vulnerable to political manipulation by the authorities due to a severe lack of transparency.
The ICJ deplores Venezuela’s recent denunciation of the Rome Statute, further proof of the absence of any will to prosecute those responsible for crimes under international law. In a context where the Office High Commissioner for Human Rights has faced unwarranted obstacles to engage effectively in the country despite an MOU, robust international oversight is more critical than ever.
Finally, the ICJ urges the Council to renew and strengthen the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, as it remains an indispensable mechanism for documenting gross human rights violations and ensuring accountability and justice for the victims and survivors.
Thank you.
Statement delivered by: Carlos Lusverti
For more information, contact: Sandra.epal@icj.org
