Venezuela Ombudsman to review cases of disappeared citizens

Venezuela’s Ombudsman, Eglèe González Lobato, has announced an exhaustive review of cases involving disappeared Venezuelan citizens. The investigation will focus on individuals missing in border areas with Colombia, as well as in Mexico, Peru, and Chile.

The initiative follows meetings with ‘Esperanza de Madre’, a collective of relatives representing more than 100 missing persons documented since 2019. The group has reported difficulties in filing formal complaints and expressed concerns regarding criminal groups operating in border zones that allegedly recruit individuals for forced labor and exploitation.

The Ombudsman’s office pledged to conduct individual case reviews, verify previous institutional actions, and coordinate with relevant national and international agencies. The institution also committed to maintaining communication channels with families to provide updates on the progress of these investigations.