UN Report Finds Venezuelan National Guard Committed Crimes Against Humanity

A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that Venezuela’s national guard engaged in grave human rights violations for more than a decade. The findings intensify scrutiny of President Nicolás Maduro’s security apparatus as global attention turns to Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado’s forthcoming address from Oslo.

Systematic Abuses by the National Guard

The Bolivarian National Guard was identified as a central actor in state persecution of political opponents. Investigators documented arbitrary killings, unlawful detentions, torture, sexual violence and other inhumane treatment during protests and targeted operations dating back to 2014. The report found that these abuses formed part of a sustained pattern designed to neutralise dissent.

Impunity and Structural Failures

The mission highlighted deep institutional weaknesses within Venezuela’s political and judicial systems, noting a chronic failure to ensure accountability. A centralised command structure under Maduro’s authority enabled continued violations. Officials were accused of planting evidence, using excessive force and employing detention sites as spaces for coercion and intimidation.

Political Context and International Reaction

The release of the report coincides with Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize recognition for challenging Maduro’s rule. She remains in hiding following threats to her life. Many Western and Latin American governments have refused to recognise the disputed 2024 election that secured Maduro a third term. The findings add pressure on Caracas as the international community denounces ongoing repression.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The UN mission was established by the Human Rights Council in 2019.
• Abuses documented include arbitrary killings, torture and sexual violence.
• Violations occurred during major protest waves in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024.
• Over seven million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2013.

Consequences for Venezuela’s Crisis

The mission’s findings suggest that the national guard played an essential role in coordinated repression, contributing to the wider humanitarian and political collapse. With the judiciary deemed unwilling or unable to pursue accountability, the report strengthens calls for international monitoring and justice mechanisms as Venezuela’s crisis deepens.