Under the veil of silence, the world’s worst abusers thrive.
Last month, at least 12 million Venezuelans exercised their right to vote in the country’s contentious presidential election. Challenging incumbent President Nicolás Maduro — whose administration is widely blamed for plunging the country into an economic and political crisis — the opposition rallied behind retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalés. Until election day, Gonzalés was all but guaranteed to win, leading with over 72% of the vote in the polls, according to the Americas Society.
Yet, a mere six hours after the ballot boxes closed, the government-controlled electoral authority declared Maduro the winner, despite the blatant absence of any international observers, independent verifications or credible vote tallies, according to The Guardian. The opposition released their own results, based on collected vote tallies representing 83.5% of the vote, but the government has yet to release proof of their claim.
While the international community was swift to respond — the U.S. and EU denounced the lack of transparency and several Latin American countries doubted Maduro’s win, according to Reuters — it seems as if this outcry faded all too quickly. In spite of Maduro’s glaring disregard for democracy, Venezuela’s stolen election has all but disappeared from the mainstream. According to Google Trends, interest in the election has practically evaporated since July 28.
By ignoring Venezuela’s apparent electoral fraud, the world risks the quiet death of democracy.
In the month since the election, Venezuelan authorities have launched the so-called Operation Knock-Knock, targeting anyone perceived to be challenging Maduro’s electoral victory. At least 2,000 people have been indiscriminately arrested amid protests or in targeted raids on their homes, with many more dead, according to The New York Times. The government has even encouraged Venezuelans to turn on each other, reporting dissidents via the government-run VenApp, according to Amnesty International.
Gonzalés is in hiding. Maria Corina Machado — the face of Venezuela’s opposition movement — is in hiding. Her top aides have sheltered in the Argentine Embassy. All are under threat of arrest from the government, according to The Wall Street Journal.
By promising “no forgiveness” for dissenters, according to El Heraldo, Maduro is endangering the human rights of all Venezuelans.
The United Nations was established in the aftermath of one of humanity’s most horrific periods, with the mandate of protecting human rights and upholding justice. Now, as Venezuela faces the brutal suppression of peaceful protests and a stolen election, it is time for the international community to act.
The world has already tried — and failed — to get Venezuela to comply with diplomatic negotiations. In 2023, Maduro’s government promised to allow free and fair elections in exchange for the U.S. dropping sanctions, according to Reuters. It turned out to be another empty promise.
As such, the international community must enact the harshest sanctions possible against all Venezuelan state-owned industries. Although sanctions against private businesses can hurt ordinary Venezuelans, strategically targeting state-owned enterprises will undermine the government’s ability to function. Over time, Maduro’s cronies will expect to be paid, and the entire system will collapse from within.
But sanctions alone are not enough. We must also amplify the voices of the Venezuelan people, ensuring their resistance and struggle do not fall to the sidelines. We must stand in solidarity and pressure governments and organizations to take action.
At the end of the day, the international community cannot guarantee that the opposition’s struggle for liberty will prevail. But doing nothing will only leave Maduro in power.
The world can no longer be selective about its moral outrage. While the Russia-Ukraine and Gaza crises dominate global headlines, we cannot let the plight of others fall through the cracks. Before Maduro’s rule, Venezuela had a bright future — it is time we help it return.
