The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado’s values represent best hopes of Venezuelans, says UN rights office
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.
“We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan. “This recognition reflects the clear aspirations of the people of Venezuela for free and fair elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of law. The High Commissioner has consistently spoken out in support of these values.”
The 58-year-old activist who was barred from running in last year’s presidential elections, lives in hiding inside Venezuela and was briefly detained after attending an opposition rally in January. She was rapidly released reportedly following international pressure.
Ms. Machado thanked the Nobel committee for the honour saying it was the “achievement of a whole society…I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this”.
Strong evidence of serious restrictions on civic freedoms in Venezuela have been documented in numerous reports mandated by the Human Rights Council. Earlier this year, independent human rights investigators reporting to the Council in Geneva urged the authorities to stop the reported practice of holding political opponents incommunicado.
They insisted that these “targeted detentions” were illegal and amounted to enforced disappearance, a major human rights violation if proved and potentially an international crime.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has also consistently expressed concerns about alleged abuses in the Latin American nation.
In December 2024, Mr. Türk highlighted the “disproportionate use of force and violence” during post-electoral protests earlier in the year, “including by armed individuals supporting the government” that resulted in at least 28 deaths.
In July, the Venezuela National Assembly declared Mr. Türk and OHCHR staff persona non grata, effectively barring UN human rights work there.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Mr. Al-Kheetan stressed that OHCHR sought to engage with the Government of Venezuela and all other stakeholders. “We remain firmly committed to continue working to defend and protect the human rights of all Venezuelans, whether they are in Venezuela or abroad, and based of course on information and with the victims at the centre of our work,” he said.
“The bottom line here is that we need more engagement with the authorities; as you know, that the National Assembly of Venezuela voted in favour of declaring the High Commissioner persona non grata and this is something that we have regretted.”
ends
STORY: Nobel Peace Prize reaction – OHCHR
TRT: 1’38”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 10 OCTOBER 2025 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Speakers:
- OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot: Palais des Nations, flag alley.
- Wide, podium speaker, UN Geneva Press room.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan: “We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on being announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. This recognition reflects the clear aspirations of the people of Venezuela for free and fair elections, for civil and political rights and for the rule of law. The High Commissioner has consistently spoken out in support of these values.”
- Medium-wide, podium speaker, remote speaker on TV screen, journalists.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan: “We reiterate this willingness of our Office to engage in good faith with the Government of Venezuela and all the stakeholders based on mutual respect and we remain firmly committed to continue working to defend and protect the human rights of all Venezuelans, whether they are in Venezuela or abroad, and based of course on information and with the victims at the centre of our work.”
- Medium, journalist.
- SOUNDBITE (English) – OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan: “The bottom line here is that we need more engagement with the authorities; as you know, that the National Assembly of Venezuela voted in favour of declaring the High Commissioner persona non grata and this is something that we have regretted.”
- Wide, podium speaker, remote speaker on TV screen.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNFPA
The UN in Lebanon appealed for an additional $331.5 million on Friday to help 1.4 million people in crisis as already massive needs continue to grow, three months after deadly violence erupted between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
UN Security Council meets amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions in Lebanon.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the biweekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson made the following remarks deplored the death in State custody of Brooklyn Rivera in Nicaragua.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Lebanon: Tyre hospital strikes leave patients without critical care – WHO
The UN health agency in Lebanon is verifying reports of strikes on a hospital in the southern city of Tyre on Monday, amid a concerning rise in attacks on healthcare in the country.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
El Niño confirmed, extreme weather events will be more intense, says WMO
The UN urged all countries on Tuesday to bolster early warning systems after confirming the onset of El Niño, warning that the Pacific Ocean-warming phenomenon will bring above-average temperatures “nearly everywhere” and fuel more extreme weather.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
‘A disease you get when you care for someone’: on the frontlines of the Ebola crisis with WHO
Two weeks into the latest Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) is estimating that there are 906 suspected cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including 223 suspected deaths.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on 29 May called for more robust measures by both states and tech companies to make online platforms safer for children, insisting on effective regulation, oversight and accountability. The digital world that connects children to learning, community and creativity also expose them to real risks, to their safety, to their privacy, and to their well-being. Online harms to kids’ safety, privacy, and well-being are not innate or inevitable.
See High Commissioner video: https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/d357/d3579089
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: Life-saving medicines blocked as killing continues, disease gains ground
In Gaza, a dire humanitarian situation marked by continuing violence, rodent infestations and the spread of diseases is being made worse by blockages of essential medical supplies, UN agencies warned on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights spokesperson Shabia Mantoo, warned against the continuing trend of involuntary returns of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers from host countries to Afghanistan, in violation of international human rights and refugee law, at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OHCHR
Lebanon's first responders face high risks amid conflict, with 116 killed since March.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC Ebola outbreak: hundreds of suspected cases, no vaccine
A fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has health workers rushing to stop transmission while the roll out of any potential vaccine is months away, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.