On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Academy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law hosted a hybrid event to examine the post-electoral crisis in Venezuela. Part of the Fall 2024 Lecture Series, the event brought together prominent human rights experts to discuss allegations of electoral fraud, political repression, and their implications for democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.

The event featured distinguished speakers, including:

• Katya Salazar, Executive Director of the Due Process Foundation (DPLF)
• Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, President of WOLA
• Angelita Baeyens, VP of International Advocacy and Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
• Luis Carlos Díaz, Venezuelan Journalist and Human Rights Defender
• Gabriel Ortiz Crespo, Program Coordinator at the Human Rights Academy and Venezuelan Lawyer, who moderated the discussion

Attendees, both in-person at AUWCL and online, engaged in a critical analysis of the political crisis, with evidence of electoral irregularities presented by opposition groups and international observers. The panels also addressed Venezuela’s compliance with the American Convention on Human Rights, highlighting the broader challenges to human rights in the region.

This timely discussion provided a platform for experts to share insights on the state of democracy in Venezuela, the risks of political repression, and the international community’s role in supporting human rights.

The Academy’s Fall 2024 Lecture Series continues to offer an essential forum for discussing pressing human rights issues worldwide.