Human Rights Watch urges U.S. to sanction Venezuelan government

In April 2025, a global human rights organization reiterated its call for action against the Venezuelan government, particularly focusing on President Nicolás Maduro's regime, which has been accused of enhancing its repressive tactics since the electoral outcomes of the previous year. The crackdown followed the July 28 election, where Maduro claimed victory amidst widespread allegations of election fraud. Human Rights Watch's report highlights extensive documentation of human rights abuses, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances, primarily targeting political opposition members and activists. Despite the repression, evidence surfaced suggesting that Maduro's opponent, Edmundo González, had won the election by a significant margin based on independent vote tallies, raising questions about the legitimacy of the government’s claim. The organization is now advocating for the U.S. government to impose stricter sanctions on Venezuelan officials and state security forces responsible for the human rights violations while simultaneously calling for humanitarian support for the beleaguered population in Venezuela. Moreover, they urged the U.S. to rescind an earlier executive order that imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, fearing it might impact ongoing lethal investigations related to crimes against humanity in Venezuela. The situation remains dire as over 2,000 individuals faced detention following the election, with many subjected to severe abuses during their imprisonment. Of the reported 285 individuals affiliated with opposition parties who were detained from November 2023 to April 2025, only a fraction had been released by April 10. The organization's report implores the international community to engage with the Maduro administration as leverage to foster progress in human rights conditions.