Justice has a Mother

In Venezuela, thousands of young people have been killed or imprisoned without due process since 2016, often as a result of state violence. According to human rights organizations, more than 15,000 people have died at the hands of law enforcement during this period. Following Nicolás Maduro’s 2024 re-election, human rights organizations documented over 2,400 arrests, with reports of torture and due process violations in several cases, according to the Penal Forum. Venezuela now ranks last in the World Justice Project’s 2024 Rule of Law Index.

This photo essay follows the mothers who have become outspoken advocates for justice after losing their sons to state violence. Some were killed in police operations without due process; others were detained and imprisoned without evidence. This project documents their ongoing fight, as they demand accountability in a country where impunity is widespread. Their stories, highlight the human cost of a broken system and the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.


Ongoing Project