HRW returns to Venezuela after 18-year absence, first visit since 2008 expulsion

Human Rights Watch conducted its first official visit to Venezuela since 2008, following the expulsion of its then Americas director José Miguel Vivanco. The visit signals a potential shift in the government's engagement with international human rights bodies, though its scope and findings remain unclear. This development matters as it may indicate a thaw in Venezuela's relations with international observers amid ongoing political and humanitarian crises.