With Trump's military action in Venezuela, the US has made every other country less safe | Volker Turk

"The US military operation in Venezuela undermines a fundamental principle of international law, agreed after the horrors of two world wars and the Holocaust: states must not use force to pursue their territorial claims or political demands. I am deeply disturbed by these events and by some of the reactions I have seen. A narrative is emerging that seeks to justify the US military intervention as a response to the Nicolas Maduro government's appalling human rights record."

"My office has long condemned serious human rights violations by the Venezuelan authorities. We have reported, monitored and warned about the situation inside Venezuela most recently, just before Christmas. We have consistently called for an end to unfair trials, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, the persecution of political opponents and sweeping restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. We have urged independent investigations and accountability."

The US military operation in Venezuela breaches the post–World War II prohibition on using force to pursue territorial claims or political demands. A narrative seeks to justify the intervention by citing the Maduro government's grievous human rights record. A human rights monitoring office condemned serious violations, reported and warned about unfair trials, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, persecution of political opponents, and sweeping restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Lawful international tools such as diplomatic leverage and accountability investments were not deployed effectively. The intervention contravenes Venezuelan sovereignty and the UN Charter and undermines global security.

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