1.4. Legislation

Sources indicated that authorities continued to rely on two previously enacted laws to justify targeting dissent and imposing severe penalties:

Laws enacted or amended during the reference period included the following:

The Organic Law Liberator Simón Bolívar against the Imperialist Blockade and in Defense of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Ley Orgánica Libertador Simón Bolívar contra el Bloqueo Imperialista y en Defensa de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), was enacted in November 2024.175 Article 2 outlines, as objectives of the Law, the following:

'1. To safeguard and protect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and self-determination of the Nation, as inalienable rights, based on the independence and anti-imperialist doctrine of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.

2. To guarantee the full enjoyment of the human rights of the Venezuelan people, including the right to peace, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the international treaties ratified by the Republic.

3. To protect the national economy from actions that affect its harmonious development and erode the standard of living of the population.

4. To promote the establishment of criminal and civil liability for actions that violate the inalienable rights of the Nation and the human rights of the Venezuelan people.

5. To protect the rights of victims of unilateral coercive measures and other restrictive or punitive measures'.176

Sources indicated that the Law contains vague language that allows discretionary interpretation of its provisions to target civil‑society organisations collaborating with international bodies.177 The law establishes penalties including disqualification from running for office, imprisonment, fines, political bans, expulsion of foreign nationals, revocation of property rights, and the cancellation of operating licences for radio and television broadcasters.178 These sanctions apply to individuals or entities deemed to promote, invoke, support, or participate in acts considered to be 'against the security of the Nation or to threaten its sovereignty, independence, self‑determination, territorial integrity, cultural values, national symbols, or interests'.179

The Law on Oversight, Regularisation, Action and Finance of Non-Governmental Organisations and Non-for-Profit Social Organisations (Ley de Fiscalización, Regularización, Actuación y Financiamiento de las Organizaciones No Gubernamentales y Afines), which entered into force in November 2024 and is commonly referred to as the 'Anti-NGO Law',180 functions as a tool of political control over NGOs.181 The law grants authorities broad discretionary powers over administrative sanctions and registration procedures.182 Only a limited number of organisations have completed the required registration process, while others have opted to suspend their operations in Venezuela.183 The UNFFMV reported that the registration process is marked by irregularities, including unequal treatment, denial of applications, and instances of bribery.184

On 30 January 2026, the National Assembly approved a sweeping reform of the oil and gas law, reversing the 2006 changes introduced under President Hugo Chávez that had imposed high taxes and strict conditions on foreign private companies.185 Despite the reform, oil companies have remained hesitant to return to or invest in Venezuela, citing persistent political risk, legal instability, and significant infrastructural deterioration.186