Commissioner for Human Rights: The future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone

At a press conference held in Geneva on Tuesday, his office spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, said that the military operation “It violates the basic principles of international law andUnited Nations Charter“which states that states may not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”adding that she made “All countries are less safe around the world.”

Shamdasani rejected the US justification for intervention based on the Venezuelan government’s record “Long and horrific” In the field of human rights, stressing that “Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved through unilateral military intervention that violates international law.”

She added: “This military intervention, which contradicts Venezuela’s sovereignty and the United Nations Charter, harms the international security structure… This is a point that the Secretary-General also made.”

Denounce violations

It is noteworthy that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was expelled from Venezuela in February 2024, due to its continuous reports on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. Independent investigations commissioned by the Human Rights Council also revealed serious and ongoing violations against opponents of the ruling party there.

Shamdasani said that the rights of the Venezuelan people have been violated for too long, which is important “He deserves accountability through a fair, victim-centered process.”

She expressed her fears that instability and increased militarization in the country as a result of American intervention would exacerbate the situation.

Shamdasani noted that a state of emergency was declared on Saturday in Venezuela, which restricts the freedom of movement of people, confiscates property necessary for national defense, and suspends the right to assembly and protest.

She renewed her call on the United States High Commissioner and the Venezuelan authorities, as well as the international community, “to ensure full respect for international law, including human rights.”

She said: “The future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone, with full respect for human rights, including the right to self-determination, and sovereignty over their lives and resources.”

A quarter of the population needs help

Combined with the political crisis in Venezuela, nearly eight million people, or one in four people, need humanitarian assistance today, after years of economic decline, repression and instability.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the response plan is still in place and requires about $600 million.

Jens Larke, spokesman for the office, said: “What happened at the political level in Venezuela is extremely serious. But for the majority of the population, their daily humanitarian situation has not changed radically.”

Of the 8 million people identified as needing assistance, 900,000 have needs “severe” Multi-sectoral, including food, nutrition, education and health services; That is, “all the things that the Venezuelan state has not been able to provide for its citizens for many years,” according to Larque.

The OCHA spokesman added that Venezuela is one of the least funded relief operations in the world. Despite this obstacle, the United Nations was able to reach about two million people with aid in 2025.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has confirmed that there has not yet been any major displacement across the country’s borders linked to the American military operation that took place on Saturday.

In this context, Commission spokeswoman Eugene Byun said: “Of course, we are closely monitoring the situation, borders and border crossing movements, and are cooperating with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners to support emergency relief efforts and protect displaced people in need as appropriate.”