What's happened
Venezuela's government orders the closure of the local UN human rights office, expelling its staff and accusing it of promoting opposition to the country.
Why it matters
The closure of the UN human rights office in Venezuela is significant as it reflects the government's crackdown on dissent and foreign oversight, raising concerns about human rights violations and democratic breakdown.
What the papers say
The New York Times and Al Jazeera report on the expulsion of the UN human rights office, highlighting the government's accusations of promoting opposition to Venezuela. The Guardian and AP News provide additional details about the detention of human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel, which triggered criticism inside and outside the country.
How we got here
The closure of the UN human rights office follows the detention and temporary disappearance of Rocío San Miguel, a prominent security expert and human rights advocate, leading to international concern about the government's actions against political opponents and critics.
More on these topics
-
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.
-
Iván Gil Calero (born 18 January 2000) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Andorra.
-
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
-
Rocío San Miguel is a lawyer and human rights activist, specialising in military issues. She is also the president of the NGO Control Ciudadano, a civil association whose objective is the supervision of citizens in terms of national security, defense, an
-
Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician serving as president of Venezuela since 2013. His presidency has been disputed by Juan Guaidó since January 2019, although Maduro is the real president.
-
Caracas, officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas.