UN rights chief concerned by 'continued torture' of Venezuela detainees

The UN rights chief said Monday his office had received information that the torture of detainees in Venezuela has continued since the US overthrow of president Nicolas Maduro in January.

Many Venezuelans also remained in arbitrary detention, including at least one child, despite the passage last month of a new amnesty law, Volker Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The bill, signed last month by interim president Delcy Rodriguez under pressure from Washington, which authorities say has seen thousands released unconditionally.

Yet, Turk warned, "structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted".

The rights chief said his office had "received information about the continued torture and mistreatment of detainees, including in the Rodeo 1 and Fuerte Guaicaipuro centres", describing this as "deeply concerning".

He also voiced concern over the impact of a declared state of emergency in Venezuela after leftist autocrat Maduro was captured in a US military raid in January.

"The security forces and armed civilian groups reportedly used this as the basis for intrusive measures, contributing to a climate of fear among the population," he said.

"I urge the authorities to reassess the decree to ensure its necessity and proportionality."

Turk meanwhile hailed that Venezuela authorities had "moved to correct some of the wrongs of the past" with the new amnesty law, although he said he regretted that "it was drafted without adequate consultations across society".

Venezuela's government claims that more than 7,000 people have been granted full freedom, including prisoners in jail and those on parole.

Turk said his office had "requested the official list of those released, as well as unfettered access to several detention centres, so far without success".

"I urge greater transparency regarding the release of detainees."

The rights chief said his office had confirmed that around 950 people who had been arbitrarily detained had been released, some under strict conditions.

And around 60 prisoners who had previously been held incommunicado had been able to receive visits and communicate with family members, he said.

"While I share the relief of those who have been freed, and their loved ones, they should never have been detained in the first place," Turk said, adding that he hoped "this practice ceases forever".

He lamented that that was currently not the case.

"Many Venezuelans are still arbitrarily detained, including people with disabilities and critical health conditions, older people, and at least one child," he said.

The Foro Penal NGO has said that more than 500 people remain detained in Venezuela for political reasons.