October 2022 report. (5) The Fact-Finding Mission’s October 2022 report concludes that crimes and violations, amounting to crimes against humanity, including extremely grave acts of torture, were committed by individuals holding various positions within the hierarchies of [the Venezuelan General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence] and [the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service] as part of a plan designed by high-level authorities to repress opponents of the Government . (6) Marta Valiñas, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, stated in January 2023 that the Maduro regime’s proposed law restricting the activities of nongovernmental organizations could represent a point of no return in the closure of the civic and democratic space and noted that organizations working in the areas of human rights in Venezuela are facing increased legal and operational hurdles, including surveillance by Venezuelan intelligence services and diminished access to funding. (7) Women and girls fleeing Venezuela face grave threats of sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking by armed groups operating in border regions, such as the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). (8) The Fact-Finding Mission continues to urge members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to continue to pay close attention to developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and to monitor whether credible progress is being made in advancing justice, accountability and respect for human rights . (9) The United States has historically used its voice, vote, and influence at the United Nations to address human rights abuses around the world and to seek to hold perpetrators accountable. 3. Actions relating to the fact-finding mission on Venezuela (a) Support To extend mandate The Secretary of State shall take such actions as may be necessary to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to seek to— (1) extend the mandate of the Independent