Reported U.S. Strike in the Caribbean Sea Would Violate International Human Rights Law

In response to the U.S. authorities’ declared lethal U.S. strike against a boat that allegedly had departed from Venezuela, which has been denied by Venezuelan authorities, who have labeled the images as fabricated artificial intelligence, Daphne Eviatar, Amnesty International USA’s Director, Security with Human Rights, said: 

“Amnesty International is deeply alarmed by the U.S. government’s claimed strike against a small boat allegedly departed from Venezuela, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals. The circumstances surrounding the incident raise serious questions about the legality, accountability and respect for international human rights law. 

“If confirmed, the strike would constitute a clear violation of the right to life under international human rights law and set a dangerous precedent. The use of lethal force in this context has absolutely no justification. 

“The intentional use of lethal force is governed by law enforcement standards under international human rights law. Accordingly, the U.S. must demonstrate, in each strike, that intentional lethal force was only used when strictly unavoidable to protect life, no less harmful means, such as capture or non-lethal incapacitation, was possible, and the use of force was proportionate in the prevailing circumstances.  

“We call for a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into this strike. The U.S. government must commit to upholding international law in all its operations, including those involving military force in law enforcement contexts, as it appears to be the case here.”

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