OHCHR / VENEZUELA UNITED STATES - SPANISH

United Nations Human Rights spokesperson Martha Hurtado said the United States’ intervention in Venezuela “has undermined a fundamental principle of international law: that no state should threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.” OHCHR

• Video Length: 00:01:39
• Production Date: 6 January 2026
• Asset Language: Spanish
• Personal Subject: VOLKER TÜRK
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; NATURAL RESOURCES; COLONIALISM
• Geographic Subject: VENEZUELA; UNITED STATES
• MAMS Id: 3523121
• Parent Id: 3523121
• Alternate Title: unifeed260106c

Description

STORY: OHCHR / VENEZUELA UNITED STATES - SPANISH
TRT: 01:39
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: 06 JANUARY 2026, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Various shots, exterior Palais Wilson

2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Martha Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“La operación militar llevada a cabo por los Estados Unidos de América durante el fin de semana en Venezuela ha socavado un principio fundamental del derecho internacional: que ningún estado debe amenazar ni utilizar la fuerza contra la integridad territorial o la independencia política de otro Estado.
Estados Unidos ha justificado su intervención alegando el historial de violaciones de derechos humanos por parte del Gobierno venezolano, sin embargo, la rendición de cuentas por las violaciones de derechos humanos no debe lograrse mediante una intervención militar unilateral que viola el derecho internacional.
Tememos que la actual inestabilidad y la mayor militarización del país, como consecuencia de la intervención de Estados Unidos, empeore aun más la situación en Venezuela.
Además, nos preocupa el estado de emergencia declarado por las autoridades venezolanas ya que autoriza restricciones a los derechos fundamentals de los venezolanos.
El futuro de Venezuela debe ser determinado únicamente por el pueblo venezolano, con pleno respeto a sus derechos humanos, incluidos el derecho a la libre determinación y la soberanía sobre sus vidas y sus recursos.”

English translation:

“The military operation carried out by the United States of America over the weekend in Venezuela has undermined a fundamental principle of international law: that no state should threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. The United States has justified its intervention by citing the Venezuelan government's record of human rights violations. However, accountability for human rights violations should not be achieved through unilateral military intervention that violates international law. We fear that the current instability and increased militarisation of the country as a result of the US intervention will further worsen the situation in Venezuela. Furthermore, we are concerned about the state of emergency declared by the Venezuelan authorities, as it authorises restrictions on the fundamental rights of Venezuelans. 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.”

3. Wide shot, exteriors

Storyline

United Nations Human Rights spokesperson Martha Hurtado today (6 Jan) said the United States’ intervention in Venezuela “has undermined a fundamental principle of international law: that no state should threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.”

In a recorded statement, Hurtado said, “the United States has justified its intervention by citing the Venezuelan government's record of human rights violations. However, accountability for human rights violations should not be achieved through unilateral military intervention that violates international law.”

She expressed “fear that the current instability and increased militarisation of the country as a result of the US intervention will further worsen the situation in Venezuela.”

Furthermore, Hurtado continued, “we are concerned about the state of emergency declared by the Venezuelan authorities, as it authorises restrictions on the fundamental rights of Venezuelans.”

She said, “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.”