Maduro Wielded 'Machinery of Repression' Against Rivals, UN Says.

The United Nations panel reported that Venezuela's security forces were heavily involved in human rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity following a disputed election in July. President Nicolas Maduro's government utilized a "machinery of repression" against political opposition, leading to arbitrary detentions, torture, and sexual violence. The crackdown, which resulted in over 2,000 arrests, targeted not only opposition figures but also the general public, with minors among those charged with terrorism. The UN report highlighted a systematic attack on the civilian population to suppress dissent, with some deaths attributed to the government's actions. [Extracted from the article]