The crisis in Venezuela and the failure of international diplomacy

Event details

Learning from Human Rights Defenders

Drawing on the events of 3 January 2026, this talk offers an insider perspective on Venezuela’s crisis beyond the headlines. It examines the humanitarian collapse, repression, the role of civil society, and the limits of international responses. A critical reflection on why diplomatic and human rights mechanisms have failed to protect the population. Placing victims at the center and reflecting on the real challenges of a democratic transition.

About the speaker

Mayda Hocevar González is a Venezuelan professor at the Faculty of Law and Director of the Human Rights Observatory at the University of Los Andes (Venezuela). She has worked for over a decade documenting human rights violations, restrictions on civic space, and attacks on academic freedom, and is currently a Protective Fellow at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), University of York.