Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Ms Shamdasani rejected the US justification for its intervention based on the Venezuelan government’s “long and atrocious” human rights record.
“Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved through unilateral military intervention in violation of international law,” he insisted.
“Far from being a victory for human rights, this military intervention, which contravenes Venezuelan sovereignty and the Charter of the United Nations, damages the architecture of international security… And this is a point that the Secretary General has also noted.”
Ms. Shamdasani explained the High Commissioner’s position that the military operation “violates the fundamental principle of international law (and) the Charter of the United Nations, which states that States should not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.”
Reporting abuse
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, was expelled from Venezuela in February 2024, following its constant reporting on the deteriorating situation there. Independent investigations commissioned by the Human Rights Council have also detailed serious and ongoing abuses against opponents of the country’s ruling party.
“The people of Venezuela deserve accountability through a fair, victim-centered process,” Shamdasani said, adding that the rights of the Venezuelan people “have been violated for too long.”
The OHCHR spokesperson expressed concern that instability and increased militarization in the country in response to US intervention could worsen the situation.
A state of emergency was declared on Saturday, restricting the free movement of people, confiscating assets necessary for national defense and suspending the right to assembly and protest, Shamdasani said. “We are particularly concerned, given the Government’s record of suppressing freedom of expression, protest and freedom of assembly, using the pretext of national security.”
“The High Commissioner calls on the United States and the Venezuelan authorities, as well as the international community, to ensure full respect for international law, including human rights,” she said, adding that the future of Venezuela “must be determined solely by the Venezuelan people, with full respect for their human rights, including the right to self-determination, and sovereignty over their lives and resources.”
One in four Venezuelans needs help
Beyond the political crisis in Venezuela, almost eight million people, or one in four, need humanitarian assistance today, after years of economic decline, repression and instability.
The U.N. aid coordination office, OCHA, said a response plan requiring approximately $600 million remains in place.
“What has happened at the political level in Venezuela is very dramatic. But for the great mass of people, their daily humanitarian situation has not changed so radically,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.
“So the situation as it was immediately before (the US intervention) has continued to this day and that is the basis of our work on the humanitarian side going into this year.”
Of the eight million identified as needing assistance, 900,000 have “very high” multisectoral needs, including food, nutrition, education and health services; “Basically everything that the State of Venezuela has not been able to offer its citizens for several years,” Mr. Laerke said.
The OCHA spokesperson added that Venezuela was one of the least funded aid operations in the world. Despite this obstacle, the UN had managed to reach around two million people with aid in 2025.
Refugees in the process of change
The situation also remains tense for the millions of refugees living outside Venezuela, although there have so far been no major movements across the country’s borders related to Saturday’s US military operation, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
“Of course, we are closely monitoring the border and cross-border situation and movement and then joining other UN agencies and humanitarian partners to support the emergency relief effort and protect displaced people in need as necessary,” said UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun, also in Geneva.