June 9, 2025
Nicolás Maduro Moros
Presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Jorge Rodríguez Gómez
Presidency of the National Assembly of Venezuela.
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to you urgently to request the immediate release of Eduardo Torres, a lawyer, teacher, trade unionist, and human rights defender, and a member of the Venezuelan Program for Human Rights Education-Action (PROVEA), who is currently detained, isolated, and incommunicado.
On May 9, 2025, Eduardo disappeared and for eight days there was no information on his whereabouts. Although officials finally publicly acknowledged his detention on May 13, there was no further information provided regarding the date, time, place or security force that carried out the arrest. There has also been no information from the Prosecutor’s Office that would be responsible for overseeing an investigation, nor on the existence of any arrest warrant. Charges against him are also unknown. Eduardo’s family and lawyers submitted a habeas corpus appeal, which judicial authorities initially rejected, before accepting it on May 12. The appeal is still pending a response.
The process against Eduardo Torres has lacked transparency and access to timely information for his family and legal counsel of his own choosing. A month later, neither family members nor trusted lawyers have had any kind of contact with him and have not been able to verify his conditions of detention or health situation. The family have only been able to contact the public defender assigned to his case, who informed them that there is a visitation ban for Eduardo, thus violating his right to due process, communication and legitimate defence.
Concerned stakeholders, including international human rights protection systems such as the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights, United Nations bodies, and hundreds of international organizations have demanded his immediate release.
We take this opportunity to remind the Venezuelan authorities that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international human rights standards, they must guarantee that human rights defenders can carry out their work freely and safely, without fear of harassment, reprisals or imprisonment.
We urge you as an authority of the State of Venezuela to take measures that will:
• Allow Eduardo regular communication with family members and trusted lawyers, in compliance with international and constitutional legal obligations and in respect for his right to due process;
• Facilitate his access to his trusted lawyers; and
• Grant his full and immediate release.
Signed,
Alianza Regional por la Libre Expresión e Información
ARTICLE 19 – Oficina para México y Centroamérica
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)
Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO)
Centro de Archivos y Acceso a la Información Pública (CAinfo Uruguay)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Derechos Digitales
Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)
Global Voices
IFoX / Initiative for Freedom of Expression- Turkey
Index on Censorship Instituto de Prensa y Libertad de Expresión – IPLEX
IPYS Perú
La Asociación Nacional de la Prensa (ANP) de Bolivia
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
OpenMedia
Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Palestinian Center For Development & Media Freedoms (MADA)
PEN America
PEN Canada
Sflc.in South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
The Independent Journalism Center Moldova
