Venezuela Civil Society Demands UN Fact-Finding Mission

Twenty-one civil society organizations have jointly called for the renewal of a key United Nations investigative body for Venezuela. The groups, including Amnesty International, made their demand in a statement published on September 26, 2026, urging the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for another two years.

The statement frames the mission as a decisive mechanism for scrutiny and justice. It argues the FFM must be maintained at least until 2028, explaining how its work complements other UN human rights offices and international justice efforts. The civil society coalition also outlined how the mission's findings can contribute to Venezuela's future.

This push follows an interactive dialogue at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 18. During the Council's 63rd session, the FFM presented its latest findings. Several organizations then issued oral statements calling for the mandate's renewal.

Mission Documents Ongoing Abuses

The Fact-Finding Mission concluded that gross human rights violations and international crimes continue in Venezuela under a veil of persisting impunity. Its recent report highlighted the role of armed civilian groups in the government's policy of repression and other abuses.

These conclusions build on a robust body of work published since 2020. The FFM's reports have profiled mid- and high-ranking perpetrators and chains of command within intelligence services and security forces. They document a state policy against civilians considered dissidents, which the mission states constitutes crimes against humanity, including persecution on political grounds.

A Mechanism for Scrutiny

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela is a special mechanism created in 2019 to investigate gross human rights violations. Its mandate has been renewed for two-year periods in 2020, 2022, and 2024 due to the continued relevance of its work.

A resolution to extend the mandate again is expected to be voted on during the final days of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, between October 5 and 7. As with previous renewals, states from the Americas are leading the effort.

The civil society statement positions the FFM as a complementary tool to other mechanisms. It is seen as vital for gathering evidence and maintaining international pressure. The organizations argue that without this independent scrutiny, the cycle of impunity for serious crimes will persist.

Their call emphasizes that the mission's documented findings are foundational for any future accountability. The profiles of perpetrators and analyses of command structures provide a detailed record. This work, they state, is indispensable for any potential transitional justice process in Venezuela.

The final vote in the Human Rights Council will determine whether this investigative work continues for another two years.