GOOD NEWS: Between January 8 and February 1, 2026, human rights defenders who remained arbitrarily detained in Venezuela were released from their respective detention centers. None of them should have been detained in the first place, and we continue calling for their releases to be unconditional and that the criminal cases against them be immediately and permanently closed. We also continue calling for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained for political reasons in Venezuela.
At least four human rights defenders are currently arbitrarily detained for defending rights in Venezuela: Javier Tarazona, detained in 2021; Rocío San Miguel, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Kennedy Tejeda, all three detained in 2024. They are prisoners of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally. We demand Nicolás Maduro ensures they are released as a matter of urgency and, while in state custody, protects their life and safety, right to not be subjected to torture, and fair trial guarantees.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: August 26, 2025
Mr. Nicolás Maduro,
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Javier Tarazona, Rocío San Miguel, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Kennedy Tejeda. They are all prisoners of conscience detained solely for defending, educating, and promoting human rights.
Javier Tarazona is an educator and director of NGO FundaRedes. He was detained on July 2, 2021 when trying to report harassment from authorities to the public prosecutor’s office. Rocío San Miguel is a lawyer and president of the civil society organization Control Ciudadano. She was detained on February 9, 2024, and sustained a shoulder fracture while in custody that requires urgent surgery and rehabilitation. Carlos Julio Rojas is a journalist and community organizer, detained since April 15, 2024 for raising concern over problems affecting his community. Kennedy Tejeda is a young lawyer and volunteer for Foro Penal. He was detained on August 2, 2024 when inquiring over the whereabouts of two men who had allegedly been arrested.
All four prisoners of conscience have suffered a myriad of other grave human rights violations, including enforced disappearance in the days following their detention, denial of trusted legal defense, periods of incommunicado detention, denial of medical care, and some have even reported being subjected to torture.
I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Javier Tarazona, Rocío San Miguel, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Kennedy Tejeda, and every victim of arbitrary detention in Venezuela. Pending their release, I demand that they are guaranteed the right to life and medical care, to not be subjected to torture, and for all fair trial guarantees to be fully protected.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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- First UA Issued: [Venezuela 1.25]
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