A new report from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and The Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy, entitled Torture: Venezuela’s State Policy, discusses the systematic use of torture by the Venezuelan government as a tool to instill fear and suppress dissent.
The report highlights:
- Methods of Torture: Prisoners in Venezuela were subjected to extreme isolation, physical assault, deprivation of sleep, lack of access to basic hygiene, food, and water, and were often denied medical treatment. Many experienced electric shocks, beatings, suffocation, and sexual violence.
- Judicial Complicity: The judiciary system in Venezuela is deeply influenced by the executive branch, with judges deferring decisions to political leaders. Torture complaints are often ignored, and judges actively discourage prisoners from recounting their torture experiences.
- Impunity: Law enforcement officials responsible for torture face little to no accountability, as investigations into these cases are systematically delayed or blocked by prosecutors and judges.
- Specific Cases: The report details the personal experiences of individuals who suffer the long-lasting effects of torture.
Read the full report below.
