Venezuela: Stop detentions and attacks on defenders

After hiding Eduardo Torres’ whereabouts for four days, Venezuelan authorities confirmed on May 13 that he is being held at El Helicoide, a notorious detention center in Caracas. Several other human rights defenders are also being arbitrarily detained there, including Javier Tarazona, Rocío San Miguel, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Kennedy Tejeda.

These arrests are part of a broader, systematic attack on civil society and those defending human rights. We urge President Nicolás Maduro to immediately release all individuals held without just cause and to guarantee their rights to life, safety, and a fair trial.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the Venezuelan President urging him to:

• Immediately release Eduardo Torres, Javier Tarazona, Rocío San Miguel, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Kennedy Tejeda, and all arbitrary detainees in Venezuela
• End the practice of enforced disappearances.
• While they remain in custody, guarantee their right to life, physical and mental integrity, contact with their families, and fair trial protections.

The arbitrary detention of Carlos Correa

On January 7, 2025, Carlos Correa, director of the Venezuelan NGO Espacio Público, was intercepted by hooded individuals dressed in black in downtown Caracas. He was taken to an unknown location. This method of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance is commonly used by state security forces to silence individuals perceived as threats to Nicolás Maduro’s government, including human rights defenders. 

Correa’s detention highlights the ongoing dangers faced by activists in Venezuela. Amnesty International has documented repeated harassment, attacks, and detentions targeting human rights defenders. 

A pattern of repression against activists

Several activists remain arbitrarily detained in Venezuela: 

• Javier Tarazona, director of Fundaredes, has been imprisoned since July 2, 2021, for his human rights work. 
• Rocío San Miguel, a prominent lawyer and defender, was detained on February 9, 2024, and kept in an unknown location until February 15. She remains imprisoned. 
• Carlos Julio Rojas, a journalist and activist, was detained on April 15, 2024, allegedly by the National Bolivarian Intelligence Service. He remains in custody. 
• Kennedy Tejeda, a lawyer with Foro Penal, was detained on August 2, 2024, while providing legal aid to other victims of arbitrary detention. 

These individuals face unfounded criminal charges, grave violations of fair trial guarantees, and targeted persecution for their activism.  

Repression, civil society, and international scrutiny

Following Venezuela’s July 28, 2024, elections, repression reached a new peak. Over 2,000 people were detained for political reasons, with vulnerable groups, including children and persons with disabilities, among those targeted. Civil society organizations have faced increasing harassment, prosecution, and censorship amidst Venezuela’s deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis, which has forced over 7.8 million people to flee the country. 

The August 2024 “anti-NGO law” imposes strict regulations on civil society organizations, requiring lists of members, donors, and financial records. Non-compliance can lead to closure and criminal prosecution. 

Internationally, reports from the UN fact-finding mission have documented crimes against humanity in Venezuela since 2014, including torture, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial executions. In 2024, the mission concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe political persecution had occurred. The International Criminal Court is also investigating crimes against humanity committed since at least 2017 by state security forces, civil authorities, and pro-government groups.

Please take action as soon as possible until November 21, 2025! The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.