Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously declares UN High Commissioner Volker Türk persona non grata, condemning his silence on kidnapped Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador and forcibly separated children in the U.S.

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Venezuela’s National Assembly delivered a unanimous and forceful rebuke to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, declaring him persona non grata. This decisive action comes after a day-long debate focused on the tragic situation of Venezuelan migrants kidnapped in El Salvador and 18 Venezuelan children forcibly separated from their parents and now living with foster families in the United States,issues which Türk has notably failed to address.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, condemned Türk in the strongest terms, accusing him of complicity in human rights abuses through his silence. Rodríguez highlighted the ongoing massacre in Gaza, where over 80,000 people have been killed, including doctors, teachers, journalists, and Red Cross personnel, yet Türk has remained mute.

“Volker Türk’s face must not be forgotten. He is as culpable as those who kill, because he covers for them by his silence,” Rodríguez declared.

“When Venezuela reported the forced disappearance of 252 people by Nayib Bukele’s regime in El Salvador, Türk was expected to speak out. Instead, he sided with Bukele, a kidnapper, making them both responsible.”

Rodríguez criticized the UN’s hollow assurances that the kidnapped Venezuelans have rights to defense, due process, and family visits, calling it “absurd” that these children are being tried in a country they have never known.

#ENVIVO | La Asamblea Nacional de #Venezuela 🇻🇪 aprueba, por unanimidad, la declaración de Volker Türk como persona non grata y la solicitud de la salida del país de la oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas

→ https://t.co/ROUUUfk9OP pic.twitter.com/QikkVEKfNA

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) July 1, 2025

The text reads: #LIVE | The National Assembly of #Venezuela unanimously approves the declaration of Volker Türk as persona non grata and the request for the departure of the United Nations High Commissioner’s Office from the country.

In response to Türk’s inaction, the Assembly resolved to pressure Venezuela’s withdrawal from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,though Rodríguez emphasized this is a temporary measure until the office restores “its form and sanity.” He described Türk as a “satrap” whose blindness to atrocities marks the rise of fascism.

Rodríguez also revealed that President Nicolas Maduro has formally written to Pope Leo XIV seeking support in this fight and called on Venezuelans to sign a petition directed to the Holy See demanding justice for the affected children.

The Human Cost: Venezuelan Children Alone and Separated

During the session, Rodríguez showed heartbreaking images of the 18 Venezuelan children currently in foster care in the U.S., separated from their mothers. He urged the nation not to forget these children, emphasizing the critical importance of maternal love in early childhood.

“More important than mere existence between birth and five years is feeling a mother’s love,” Rodríguez said, warning that these children face a hostile world where being Venezuelan has become a target of persecution.

“Separating a child under five years old causes death anxiety and jeopardizes their healthy development.”

Pdte de la AN, Diputado Jorge Rodríguez, continúa debate sobre la situación de los migrantes venezolanos secuestrados y sometidos a desaparición forzosa en EI Salvador y por la repatriación inmediata de nuestras niñas y
niños retenidos y separados de sus familiares en los EEUU. pic.twitter.com/umJisfLsJq

— Asamblea Nacional 🇻🇪 (@Asamblea_Ven) July 1, 2025

The text reads: The President of the National Assembly, Deputy Jorge Rodríguez, continues the debate on the situation of Venezuelan migrants kidnapped and subjected to forced disappearance in El Salvador, and on the immediate repatriation of our girls and boys who are held and separated from their families in the United States.

Denouncing Nayib Bukele’s Role in Migrant Kidnappings

The Assembly also denounced the Salvadoran government led by Nayib Bukele, describing it as a fascist and inhumane regime operating concentration camps for Venezuelan migrants. Rodríguez detailed how 252 men and nine women, including Gladys Caricote, were kidnapped and mistreated in El Salvador. While some women were returned, many men remain detained under brutal conditions.

He called on Venezuelans to mobilize in demanding the immediate return of the kidnapped migrants and the separated children.

The declaration of Volker Türk as persona non grata reflects Venezuela’s unwavering commitment to defending its people against international neglect and abuse. The National Assembly’s actions send a clear message: silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and Venezuela will continue to expose and resist imperialist and fascist forces that threaten its citizens.

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