Event Summary
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her most recent oral update on the situation in Venezuela, reported that despite requests from her office, she has not been provided with the list of all individuals who have been released and/or freed in the country as part of the release process announced on 8 January 2026 and following the entry into force of the Amnesty Law in February.
Likewise, the OHCHR reiterated that cases of torture and cruel treatment persist against people deprived of their liberty in various detention centers.
Despite the approval of the Amnesty Law in February of this year, hundreds of people remain detained for political reasons in Venezuela. According to civil society organizations, up to 503 people are still deprived of liberty for political reasons, including one minor, 452 men, and 51 women.
Furthermore, since 2014, more than 19,000 political detentions have been documented in the country, and up to 11,000 people continue to be subject to measures restricting their freedom.