How do Sanctions violate Venezuelan human rights?

Published at: 22/09/2026 09:55 PM

Unilateral coercive measures are the clear expression of a human rights violation suffered by a country, they affect the economic, social and general well-being of the Venezuelan population by restricting access to vital resources.

Organizations such as the United Nations (UN) have pointed out that these sanctions disproportionately restrict the quality of life of citizens and hinder the country's development. Below are the details of the loss of human rights experienced by Venezuelans:

Illegality and Transgression of International Law : Sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States, the European Union and other countries lack the support of the UN Security Council. Therefore, it violates the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of sovereignty, non-interference and self-determination.

Classification as a Crime Against Humanity : The government has filed complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) arguing that the deliberate economic blockade constitutes a massive and systematic attack against the civilian population, framed under the category of crimes against humanity.

: By depriving the State of its legitimate income, it prevents compliance with constitutional obligations to guarantee fundamental rights such as life, health and food.

Economic and Financial Impact Mechanisms : Damage to human rights occurs through three ways:

Loss of National Revenue : The ban on the sale of oil and the seizure or freezing of assets abroad (such as Citgo in the US or gold reserves in the Bank of England) reduced the country's foreign exchange earnings by more than 90%.

: The international banking system, under the threat of being fined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC), blocks Venezuelan transfers intended for purchases of vaccines, medical supplies, food or spare parts for the electricity grid and drinking water, even when there are theoretical humanitarian exceptions.

Obstructing Foreign Trade : Difficulty acquiring industrial and chemical spare parts needed to keep water purification plants, electrical infrastructure and fuel refineries operational.

Direct Impact on Key Areas of Human Rights that have violated priority areas of daily life:

Right to Health : Inability to purchase treatments for chronic diseases (cancer, kidney failure, HIV), interruption of transplant programs abroad (such as the PDVSA-CITGO agreement) and delays in the purchase of vaccines.

Right to Food : Impact on domestic production due to lack of diesel, fertilizers and agricultural inputs, as well as financial difficulties in maintaining the import of food for social assistance programs (such as CLAP).

Right to Development and Basic Services : Impossibility of making large scale investments to maintain or modernize the national electricity system, drinking water distribution and telecommunications.

Position before Multilateral Organizations and UN Special Rapporteurs : The Government frequently reiterates through the reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, which have indicated that sanctions have exacerbated the economic crisis and disproportionately affected the most vulnerable sectors.

Demand for an Uprising : In political and diplomatic dialogues, the Bolivarian Government demands and conditions any progress in various areas on the total and unconditional lifting of all sanctions imposed against the Venezuelan economy.

AMELYREN BASABE/ Mazo News Team