CIDH: Impunity and concentration of power have consolidated a de facto regime in Venezuela
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- A report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) states that Venezuela has consolidated a de facto regime characterized by impunity and concentrated power.
- The CIDH highlights a progressive weakening of the rule of law, with a lack of investigation and sanction for serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and due process violations.
- The report criticizes the 2024 electoral process for alleged fraud and lack of transparency, and notes the International Criminal Court's investigation into alleged crimes against humanity.
The latest report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) paints a grim picture of Venezuela, confirming what many of us have long suspected: a de facto regime has solidified, built on a foundation of impunity and the absolute concentration of power. This is not merely a political observation; it is a stark assessment of the systematic erosion of the rule of law, as detailed in the work by journalist Sebastiana Barráez for Infobae.
The CIDH's findings, approved in December 2025 and sent to the Venezuelan state without comment, underscore a deepening crisis. The lack of investigation and punishment for severe human rights abuses – including assassinations, arbitrary detentions, and violations of due process – has become a hallmark of this regime. The 2024 electoral process, marred by accusations of fraud and opacity, has seemingly cemented Nicolás Maduro's grip on power, a situation that demands urgent international attention.
What is particularly alarming is the CIDH's emphasis on impunity not as an isolated issue, but as a deliberate strategy to maintain political control and silence dissent. The continued lack of independence in the Public Ministry and the Judiciary means that genuine accountability for human rights violations remains elusive. This situation is precisely why the International Criminal Court has opened a formal investigation into alleged crimes against humanity, a historic step for the Western Hemisphere.
From our perspective in Venezuela, this report confirms the daily reality for many citizens. The instrumentalization of public institutions, political disqualifications, restrictions on voting, and the suppression of international observation missions are not abstract concepts; they are tangible barriers to freedom and justice. The CIDH's call for urgent diplomatic action to restore democracy and rebuild institutions based on the rule of law is a call we echo wholeheartedly. The international community must recognize that the situation in Venezuela transcends internal politics; it is a critical human rights crisis that demands a unified and decisive response.
La gravedad de la situación exige una acción diplomática urgente para restaurar la democracia y reconstruir las instituciones sobre la base del Estado de Derecho y los derechos humanos
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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