The situation in Venezuela under the presidency of Nicolás Maduro is the subject of constant international criticism regarding the economic, social, and political crisis facing the country. Maduro's presidency, which began in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez, has been marked by controversial policies, repression of dissent, and a significant deterioration in the living conditions of the Venezuelan population.
Economic and Social Context
Since Nicolás Maduro took office, Venezuela has experienced an unprecedented economic crisis. Inflation has reached enormous levels, leading to a drastic decrease in the purchasing power of the population. According to Amnesty International data, in 2023, the monthly cost of the food basket for a Venezuelan family of five was equivalent to about 494 US dollars, while the monthly minimum wage was only 3.67 dollars. This disparity has resulted in severe food insecurity, with 25.7% of families reporting making fewer than three meals a day and 22.8% going entire days without eating.
The public health system has also collapsed. Nearly three-quarters of health centers suffered from medicine, equipment, and personnel shortages, and 88.9% of public health services were not functioning properly. These conditions have been exacerbated by the lack of access to potable water and constant interruptions in electricity supply, which have even led to patient deaths in hospitals.
The economic crisis is not limited to inflation and shortages of basic products. Venezuela's economy has been severely affected by the drop in oil prices, the country's primary source of income. Mismanagement and corruption have exacerbated these problems. Oil production has significantly decreased due to the lack of investment and maintenance in the industry, as well as international sanctions imposed by countries like the United States.
Repression and Human Rights
Maduro's government has been accused of implementing a systematic policy of repression against those who criticize its management. Security forces have responded to protests with illegitimate force and other repressive measures. Amnesty International reported that in 2023 there were approximately 15,700 arbitrary detentions. Forced disappearances, torture, and unfair trials are common practices in this dictatorship.
The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has documented crimes against humanity committed by Maduro's government. The International Criminal Court continues its investigation into these crimes, despite attempts by the Venezuelan government to suspend the process. Impunity for extrajudicial executions committed by security forces remains the norm, and the judicial system has been used to protect those responsible for these violations.
Prison conditions in Venezuela are deplorable. Prisons are overcrowded, and inmates are often subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The lack of access to medical care, food, and potable water in prisons reflects the country's overall conditions. Human rights defenders and journalists who report these violations are also persecuted, and many have had to go into exile to avoid repercussions.
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
The economic crisis has had a devastating impact on the economic, social, and cultural rights of Venezuelans. The lack of access to food, water, and adequate healthcare continues to be a concern. The humanitarian agreement known as the “Social Table,” signed in 2022, which established a humanitarian fund managed by the UN to address urgent issues, has not been properly implemented.
The right to work has also been severely affected. There are ongoing reports of persecution, intimidation, and harassment against unionists and workers. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported 12 cases of criminalization of union leaders up to September 2023.
Education has also suffered. According to HumVenezuela, 18% of the child population did not attend school in 2023, and at least 44.8% did not do so regularly due to the underfunding and understaffing of public schools and the low salaries of teaching staff. Teachers in the public school system continue to demand better working conditions.
Rights of Women and Minorities
Women and girls in Venezuela face significant problems just like the rest of the country. The prolonged humanitarian emergency has disproportionately affected women, increasing their risk of gender-based violence and making them more vulnerable to economic dependence in abusive relationships. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has expressed concern over the high incidence of gender-based violence, the persistence of femicides, forced disappearances, and sexual and psychological violence.
LGBTI people also continue to suffer from discrimination and abuse. In July 2023, the police arbitrarily detained 33 men because of their sexual orientation and committed abuses against their human rights.
The situation of indigenous communities in Venezuela is alarming. Indigenous people have been displaced from their ancestral lands due to illegal mining and violence by armed groups. Additionally, the lack of access to basic services and structural discrimination have worsened the living conditions of these communities, which face severe food and health insecurity.
International Impact and Restrictive Policies
The Venezuelan crisis has had an international impact. More than 7.72 million Venezuelans have fled the country, seeking refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. In October 2023, the United States resumed deportation flights to Venezuela, and 928 expulsions were carried out up to the end of December.
The Venezuelan government has also increased its military presence along the border with Guyana, raising the risk of human rights violations.
The international community has implemented various sanctions against the Maduro regime, seeking to pressure for political change. However, these sanctions have had a limited impact on the ruling elite, while exacerbating the economic difficulties for the general population.
Future Prospects
The international community must continue to pressure for concrete measures to address human rights violations and implement truly effective and pragmatic humanitarian solutions.
Restoring democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela is imperative to overcoming the current situation. This involves not only holding free and fair elections but also rebuilding institutions and ensuring accountability for human rights violations.
Maduro's presidency has marked an era of darkness and suffering for Venezuela. His inability to manage the economy, combined with his brutal repression and systematic trampling of democratic institutions, has driven the country to an unprecedented state of human misery. Maduro has not only economically impoverished his people but has also perpetuated a mental and moral impoverishment, blinded by his ambition for power and disdain for human rights.
The complicity of governments that support Maduro and do not condemn his actions only worsens this tragedy. These international actors are partly responsible for the suffering of millions of Venezuelans who are fighting for change, justice, and the restoration of democracy in their country.
It is imperative that the international community does not close its eyes to Maduro's dictatorship and the suffering of the Venezuelan people. Diplomatic pressure and sanctions must be intensified, and the crimes against humanity committed by the regime must be brought to justice. Only then can hope and dignity begin to be restored to a people who have been subjected to years of oppression and misery.
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