On July 1, 2025, the Venezuelan National Assembly declared Volker Türk, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, a “persona non grata.”.[1] Although the direct impact of the decision is limited, it is noteworthy as an important development in terms of Venezuela’s relations with the UN and international cooperation in the field of human rights.
Venezuela’s relationship with UN human rights mechanisms has been turbulent since the 2000s. The death of Hugo Chavez in 2013 and Nicolas Maduro’s ascension to the presidency marked the beginning of a new era in the country. During this period, increasing economic hardship, social protests, and political polarization drew international attention to the country.
In 2019, then-High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet visited Venezuela and published a report on the human rights situation, which was supported by some circles but criticized by the government. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UN’s humanitarian aid and health cooperation initiatives came to the fore, and the Venezuelan government cooperated partially with international organizations on some issues.
However, human rights reports have always been a sensitive issue for the government. During the 2022-2024 period, a UN Human Rights Office was opened in Caracas and technical support programs were implemented. Nevertheless, the emphasis on sovereignty and the approach that national issues are closed to external intervention has remained one of the fundamental elements of Venezuela’s diplomatic line.
The term “persona non grata” is a concept found in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which defines a state’s authority to refuse entry to a diplomatic representative it does not want. According to the Convention, states are not required to justify their declarations of “persona non grata.” This practice, observed in diplomatic relations between states, generally carries a political message.[2]
Representatives of UN members and UN officials have a different legal status. According to the 1946 UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities, UN personnel have the right to perform their duties independently and enjoy immunity. Therefore, while the declaration of a “persona non grata” may reflect a state’s political response, it does not automatically terminate the representative’s authority from a legal standpoint. The practical consequences of such a declaration are often determined through negotiations between the state and the United Nations.
From this perspective, Venezuela’s decision is primarily symbolic in nature and does not automatically lead to the Commissioner’s dismissal under international law. However, in practice, the host state may impose restrictions on the representative’s field activities or make the office’s working conditions more difficult. How the decision will be implemented in the short term depends on several possibilities. In the first scenario, the Venezuelan government may allow the UN Human Rights Office to continue.
[1] “Venezuelan Lawmakers Declare UN Human Rights Official Turk Persona Non Grata.” Reuters, Reuters, www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelan-lawmakers-declare-un-human-rights-official-turk-persona-non-grata-2025-07-01/, (Accessed Date: 07.06.2025).
[2] Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. United Nations, 18 Apr. 1961, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 500, p. 95. PDF file, https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf, (Accessed Date: 07.06.2025).
