The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the United States’ seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, warning that the military operation undermines fundamental principles of international law and state sovereignty.
Türk said the action weakens protections for all sovereign nations and stressed that the future of Venezuela must be determined by its people.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the High Commissioner’s spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, said the U.S. intervention made “all States less safe around the world.”
She rejected Washington’s justification for the operation based on Venezuela’s “longstanding and appalling” human rights record, insisting that accountability for abuses cannot be achieved through unilateral military action.
“Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law,” Shamdasani said.
She added that the operation contravenes Venezuelan sovereignty and the UN Charter, warning that it damages the global architecture of international security — a concern also raised by the UN Secretary-General.
According to Shamdasani, the High Commissioner maintains that the use of force violates a core principle of international law, which prohibits states from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was expelled from Venezuela in February 2024 following its continued reporting on the country’s deteriorating human rights situation. Independent investigations mandated by the UN Human Rights Council have since documented serious and ongoing abuses against political opponents.
“The people of Venezuela deserve accountability through a fair, victim-centred process,” Shamdasani said, adding that their rights “have been violated for too long.”
She also warned that growing instability and militarisation following the U.S. intervention could further worsen the human rights situation.
A state of emergency declared on Saturday restricts freedom of movement, allows the seizure of property for national defence, and suspends the rights to assembly and protest.
“We’re particularly concerned, given the Government’s record of suppressing free speech, protest and freedom of assembly under the pretext of national security,” Shamdasani said.
She said the High Commissioner has called on the United States, Venezuelan authorities and the international community to ensure full respect for international law and human rights.
“The future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone, with full respect for their human rights, including self-determination and sovereignty over their lives and resources,” she added.
Beyond the political crisis, the humanitarian situation in Venezuela remains dire. Nearly eight million people — about one in four — currently require humanitarian assistance after years of economic decline, repression and instability, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said a humanitarian response plan remains in place, requiring approximately 600 million dollars.
“It’s very dramatic what has happened on the political level in Venezuela, but for the majority of people, their humanitarian day-to-day situation hasn’t changed radically,” Laerke said.
Of those in need, about 900,000 people have very high multisectoral needs, including food, nutrition, education and healthcare — services the state has struggled to provide for years, he added.
Despite being one of the world’s least-funded humanitarian operations, the UN reached around two million people with aid in 2025.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said the situation remains tense for millions of Venezuelan refugees abroad, though no major cross-border displacement has been recorded following the U.S. operation.
UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun said the agency is closely monitoring border movements and coordinating with partners to provide emergency assistance and protection as needed.
Nearly 7.9 million Venezuelans have fled the country in search of safety and better living conditions, with more than 6.9 million hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UNHCR continues to support the inclusion of Venezuelans in host communities and promote stability, development and long-term solutions across the region.