No to Coercive Power, Yes to the Rule of International Law in Venezuela

Statement by Amel Association International

In light of the grave and rapidly unfolding developments in Venezuela, and their direct repercussions on civil peace, social stability, and human rights, we affirm that the world today stands at a highly sensitive crossroads. At this moment, the credibility of the international system is being tested, its capacity to protect peoples rather than subjugate them, and to uphold their dignity rather than bargain it away.

What is unfolding calls for the urgent restoration of the fundamental principles of international law, foremost among them the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in addition to the Geneva Conventions and all treaties that have established the foundations for respecting state sovereignty and the right of peoples to freely determine their own destiny, away from coercion, collective punishment, and interventions that deepen crises rather than resolve them.

In this context, the situation in Venezuela cannot be separated from the broader global landscape. International complacency in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in multiple regions around the world, has begun to push humanity toward what we have long warned against, a world without safeguards and without justice, governed by double standards. Justice is the foundation and essence of peace, not force nor the logic of domination. Violence only breeds counter-violence, drawing peoples and societies into successive cycles of destruction and instability. From this standpoint, the United States bears a historic and moral responsibility to spare the world further suffering, by genuinely adhering to international law, halting escalation policies, and working to prevent regional and international crises from sliding toward a broader confrontation that could ignite a war with no winners.

We warn that the continued erosion of these legal and ethical reference points opens the door to a less secure and more chaotic world, where rules are replaced by alignments, and rights by the logic of power. Accordingly, we call for the building of a transnational popular alliance that brings together civil society organizations, trade unions, social movements, intellectuals, and independent media, to work collectively toward activating international law, holding violators accountable, and defending human dignity wherever it is threatened.

We further stress the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of Venezuela and all peoples, and rejecting any approaches that marginalize the voice of the people or strip their right to self-determination of its substance. Sustainable solutions are not imposed from outside, they are built through inclusive national dialogue and responsible international support that places human well-being above all other considerations.

In this regard, we call on Europe to assume an active and balanced role in restoring respect for international law and contributing to the rehabilitation of the multilateral system, through political and humanitarian initiatives that elevate preventive diplomacy, protect the rights of peoples, and help restore a global balance grounded in justice rather than hegemony.

Saving the world from further descent into division begins with a collective will to restore the spirit of international law, the human meaning of politics, and the inalienable right of peoples to freedom, dignity, and self-determination.