Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela


The International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is an observation body established in 2019 to study the human rights situation under the Bolivarian Revolution.

Creation

The Mission's mandate was created on 27 September 2019 by United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 42/25 to assess human rights violations since 2014: including persecution of opposition groups, immigration, food crisis, state sexism towards Venezuelan women and girls, among others; since the beginning of the first government of Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights led by Michelle Bachelet reported the following in its 2019 report:
In the context of the presidential crisis of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó said that "the Report of the UN puts to Maduro to level of the atrocious crimes committed by Gaddafi", whereas Maduro disqualified the report "for being plagued with falsehoods".

Structure

The mission is hierarchical among the members of the United Nations:
  • Francisco Cox Vial
  • Paul Seils
The mission does not operate in the country since the Maduro government has refused it permission.

Reports

On 17 September 2020 the International Mission published a report describing extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and cruel treatment committed in Venezuela since 2014. On 5 October, the UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution extending the Mission's mandate for two more years.