A United Nations fact-finding body on Venezuela said on Monday it was “gravely concerned” over the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court and urged it to rejoin.
– Venezuela’s government said on Friday it had made an “irrevocable” decision to leave, justifying the move by alleging a “geographical bias” within the court.
- The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela was formed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2019.
- By withdrawing, the Venezuelan government seeks to evade international processes designed to ensure accountability, the mission said.
- Venezuela has taken no meaningful action to investigate gross violations and international crimes committed over more than a decade, it added.
- The mission called on Venezuela to rejoin the ICC and cooperate fully with international justice mechanisms.
- The exit “serves only to reinforce impunity for human rights violations,” the mission said in a statement.
- In 2020, the ICC said there was a reasonable basis to believe civilian officials, members of the armed forces and pro-government individuals had committed crimes against humanity in Venezuela since at least 2017.
- In January 2025, the ICC closed its office in Caracas, citing a lack of cooperation from the Venezuelan government, which was then led by former President Nicolas Maduro.
- Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has become a close ally of the Trump administration, which has said it would seek to dismantle the ICC.
- The U.S. on Friday welcomed Venezuela’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, which it described as “corrupt” and “worthless” in a statement following Venezuela’s exit from the body.