Nicaragua: Persecution of people perceived as opponents has become a recurrent practice and can transcend beyond its borders

Nicaragua: Persecution of people perceived as opponents has become a recurrent practice and can transcend beyond its borders

Washington, D.C., June 27, 2025.– The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that the persecution of the Government of Nicaragua against people perceived as opponents “has become a recurrent practice and can transcend beyond its borders,” which represents a high risk to the life and physical integrity of people in exile.

This information corresponds to the oral update on the human rights situation in Nicaragua, carried out this Friday, June 27, in the framework of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council and in accordance with Resolution 58/18 of that body. It was presented by the director of the Global Operations Division of the Office, Maarit Kohonen.

Kohonen said that the persecution of people perceived as political opponents in Nicaragua includes human rights defenders, journalists, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, religious and secular leaders, and that this situation “is exacerbated by legislative changes that reinforce the closure of civic space and increase restrictions on political participation.”

Arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances

The report indicates that arbitrary detentions continue to be used as a tool of political repression, consolidating a climate of fear to silence any critical voice, and that, according to information gathered by the Office, at least 54 people (47 men and 7 women) remain arbitrarily detained. “The real figure could be higher as many families are afraid to report for fear of reprisals,” he said.

Additionally, the Office has documented 13 cases of possible forced disappearance, of which 8 correspond to older adults and 2 to indigenous persons. Of these cases, they highlighted Evelyn Carolina Matus Hernández’s, whose whereabouts have been unknown since she was arbitrarily detained on June 25, 2024, and separated from her 5 and 10 year old children.

“Detention conditions continue to be worrying, with reports of torture and insufficient food. Of the 54 people detained 15 are elderly people with urgent medical needs without adequate care. Of particular concern is the case of Aníbal Martín Rivas Reed, 62, who suffers from degenerative arthritis and clinical depression and whose whereabouts have been unknown since his arrest last May,” he added.

In relation to the situation of the independent press, the office reported that  at least 168 journalists have had to go into exile since 2018 while those who remain in the country face surveillance, threats and censorship, highlighting the case of journalist Leo Cárcamo, who was arbitrarily detained in November 2024 and since then his whereabouts remain unknown, which could constitute an enforced disappearance.

In the oral update, the Office reiterated its call on the Nicaraguan authorities to immediately release all arbitrarily detained persons, to cease enforced disappearances and torture, and to ensure respect for international standards on dignified treatment in places of detention.

Legislative reforms

The High Commissioner’s report referred to the reforms to the Electoral Law approved last March, noting that they deepen the concentration of power in the Presidency and further weaken the guarantees of democratic participation, by eliminating the mechanisms of referendum and plebiscite and authorizing proselytism in public offices, as well as limiting the constitution and integration of political parties.

“These reforms together with the constitutional reforms adopted in January 2025 raise serious doubts about the existence, independent functioning of political parties, in addition there is uncertainty about the dates of the next presidential elections,” he said.

He also referred to the new organic law of the Judiciary, in that it grants the Presidency of the Republic the power to propose the presidency of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) and allows the restriction of the publicity of criminal proceedings at the discretion of the judicial authority.

“Recently enacted legislation has further weakened protections for indigenous peoples’ and Afro-descendant peoples’ territories and their forms of governance; These reforms have been adopted without due guarantees of the right to consultation and free, prior and informed consent. This, coupled with ongoing attacks against communities that include killings, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention of leaders, poses a serious threat to the survival of Nicaraguan indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples,” he added.

The report also denounced that the number of non-governmental or civil society organizations that have been arbitrarily terminated has now reached 5,535 and that this year the Office has documented 29 cases (17 women and 12 men) of people who were denied entry to their own country for political reasons.

Isolation of Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan representation was absent from the session and, therefore, did not respond to the complaints and demands raised. The Office of the High Commissioner, for its part, noted that despite the urgent need to address the human rights crisis, Nicaragua continues to isolate itself from cooperation with international organizations, notifying its withdrawal from UNESCO in May and from UNHCR in June.

“We once again call on the Nicaraguan authorities to resume dialogue to guarantee the promotion and protection of human rights in the country, including the conclusion of the Universal Periodic Review,” they said.

From Race and Equality, we reject the resistance of the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to be accountable before the Human Rights Council and warn that both the bodies of the universal system of protection of human rights and civil society organizations must continue to demand that the State be held accountable and that the victims receive justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition that they deserve. Turning our backs on international obligations and protection bodies will not provide them with the impunity they seek.

We share the concern of the Office of the High Commissioner about the persistence and worsening of politically motivated persecution and other forms of repression against people perceived as opponents, and we therefore call on the international community to maintain vigilance over the human rights situation in the country and beyond its borders regarding exiles.

We demand that the regime report on the whereabouts of all disappeared persons, as well as the immediate release of all those imprisoned for political reasons.

 

The international community must act to protect Nicaraguan opposition figures exiled in Costa Rica

Geneva, June 24. The Colectivo 46/2 denounces before the international community the murder of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam Ruíz, which took place on June 19 at his home in San José, Costa Rica.

Samcam Ruíz was a strong critical voice against the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship. He denounced the Nicaraguan army and accused it of participating in the repression and extrajudicial executions committed since 2018. He had also denounced a network of spies targeting opposition members who had sought refuge in Costa Rica.

The retired Major was one of 94 Nicaraguans stripped of their nationality in February 2023 by the dictatorship and had been living as a refugee in Costa Rica since July 11, 2018, due to persecution and criminalization by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. He obtained Spanish nationality on July 26, 2023.

The murder of the retired military officer is not the first attack against opponents on Costa Rican soil. In 2023, opposition figure Joao Maldonado and his wife were shot with the clear intention of killing them. Maldonado had already suffered another attack in 2021, also in San José, Costa Rica. In 2022, Nicaraguan opposition figure Rodolfo Rojas was found dead in Honduras. According to family members, he had been lured to that country from Costa Rica, where he had been living in exile. Added to the list is the murder of another refugee, Jaime Luis Ortega, in 2024, in Upala, a town on the border with Nicaragua. In the wake of these events, Roberto Samcam had spoken to the press, pointing to the direct involvement of the Ortega Murillo regime and indicating that he knew his life was in danger.

While investigations into Samcam’s murder are ongoing, the circumstances of the crime and the profile of the victim raise well-founded suspicions that this may be a political crime with possible transnational links. This murder comes at a time when various human rights organizations have been documenting a sustained pattern of surveillance, threats, harassment, and acts of intimidation against Nicaraguan exiles in the region, especially in Costa Rica.

We believe that this crime should be analyzed and investigated as part of a broader strategy of transnational repression promoted by the Nicaraguan regime to persecute and silence dissent outside its borders, in open violation of the human rights of refugees and exiles. This transnational repression has been documented by the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua (GHREN), which has stated that “The government’s repressive actions transcend the country’s borders and affect opponents or those perceived as such abroad. The government has also continued to attack relatives of opponents inside Nicaragua, including children, by association alone, as a way of punishing opponents and/or deterring them from speaking out wherever they are.”

Given the gravity of this crime and the sustained pattern of transnational repression against Nicaraguan exiles, we urgently call on the international community to demand that the Nicaraguan State immediately cease all forms of persecution, surveillance, and violence against dissidents in exile. We also request that the international community strengthen its political, technical, and financial support for protection mechanisms for human rights defenders in exile. Likewise, we urge the establishment of bilateral or multilateral communication channels with the host countries of Nicaraguans, in order to assess the security situation and coordinate preventive responses to possible acts of transnational persecution. Finally, we call on international human rights bodies to urgently follow up on these cases as part of a systematic pattern of cross-border repression, and to ensure justice and truth for the victims.

Additional information

Colectivo 46/2 is a coalition of 19 international, regional, and Nicaraguan human rights organizations that regularly informs the international community about the Nicaraguan regime’s failure to fulfill its international human rights obligations. The following is a list of the organizations that are members of the Collective and have decided to publicly endorse this statement:

Colectivo Nicaragua Nunca Más

Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights

International Service for Human Rights – ISHR

International Network of Human Rights Europe – RIDHE

Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres – MAM

Peace Brigades International – PBI

Unidad de Defensa Jurídica, Registro y Memoria – UDJUDR

Urnas Abiertas

World Organization Against Torture – OMCT

Murder of Roberto Samcam: An Abominable Crime that Sets Off Alarms about the Infiltration of Nicaraguan Military Intelligence in Costa Rica

Washington, D.C., June 20, 2025 – The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) strongly condemns the murder of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam, which occurred early Thursday morning, June 19, in San José, Costa Rica. This crime shows that the risk to the integrity and life of people who oppose or are perceived as such by the dictators Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo transcends borders, so this abominable act, added to other attacks that have been recorded, should turn on the alerts of the Costa Rican institutions to ensure justice.

Civil society organizations in exile, the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua and other mechanisms for the protection of human rights have warned about transnational repression, pointing out the existence of persecution and reprisals applied outside Nicaraguan territory, which to date has manifested itself in attacks and murders such as the one we condemn today, as well as through the refusal to issue passports or to enter Nicaragua, leaving hundreds of Nicaraguans in a situation of de facto statelessness.

Race and Equality is deeply concerned about the presence of Nicaraguan military intelligence infiltrators in Costa Rica and their links to the assassinations and attacks against the opposition in the country, where they were forced to go into exile to save their lives and personal integrity.

“What we face today is not only a heinous crime, but a demonstration of the extent to which a regime can go when impunity is allowed to cross borders. As an international human rights organization, we are deeply concerned about the weakening of safe spaces for Nicaraguan exiles. Defending the lives and freedom of those fleeing persecution must be a priority for the international community,” said Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of Race and Equality.

We hope that the Costa Rican authorities will thoroughly investigate the murder of retired Major Roberto Samcam – who was a well-known critic of the dictatorial regime headed by Ortega and Murillo – and determine the material and intellectual authors of this crime.

We denounce that, in this way, the Nicaraguan dictatorship is attempting to silence the opposition, even beyond its borders. Critical speech is protected by international human rights instruments and deserves all necessary protection. The crime against Roberto Samcam, defender of democracy and human rights, must not go unpunished.

Finally, we urge the Costa Rican authorities to guarantee the safety of Nicaraguan opponents residing in the country, as well as an adequate environment for them to express themselves without fear of reprisals.

 

Nicaragua: Seven Years After the April Protests, Victims of Repression Continue to Demand Justice

Washington, DC, April 17, 2025.– This April marks the seventh anniversary of the protests that unleashed violent repression by the regime presided by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, which left 355 lethal victims, more than 2,000 people injured, more than 2,000 people detained and more than 440,000 people in exile, according to the IACHR and its Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI). Not only have the victims not received the justice they deserve, but they have been persecuted by a State that continued to retaliate against them.

Race and Equality expresses its solidarity with all victims of repression and our commitment to continue accompanying them until justice is served.

Seven years after the beginning of the April protests in Nicaragua, according to the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, 52 people continue to be arbitrarily detained for political reasons, 11 of them in a situation of forced disappearance, including 5 women. More than 450 people have been stripped of their nationality. Independent journalism cannot practice in the country and the defense of human rights and freedom of association has been impacted by the closure of more than 5,400 civil society organizations and the confiscation of their assets.

Additionally, a profound constitutional reform that went into effect in February of this year completed the configuration of a dictatorial regime co-governed by Ortega and Murillo. As a consequence of this reform to the Constitution, more than 80,000 civilians have been armed and equipped with ski masks to terrorize the population and submit them to the will of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to remain in power.

During these seven years, Race and Equality has accompanied the victims of the repression in their search for justice, as well as to guarantee them the protection conferred by precautionary and provisional measures in the face of the serious risks they face. Together with other civil society organizations, we have developed extensive advocacy and litigation actions with the purpose of contributing to overcoming this crisis.

Race and Equality has also accompanied civil society organizations, both local and those that continue to address the Nicaraguan crisis from exile, so that their documentation work can serve as input for reports to the Treaty Bodies that reviewed Nicaragua’s compliance with its international obligations in 2022 and 2023 and in the evaluations carried out under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2019 and 2024. Race and Equality has also carried out repeated advocacy actions before the European Parliament with the aim of having the regime condemned and persuaded to force it to comply with its international human rights obligations.

Seven years after the beginning of the April civic protests, it is with deep concern that we see the direction in which a ruthless and cruel regime is leading the Nicaraguan people through the exercise of unbridled power, which continues to massively and systematically violate human rights. The regime has decided to isolate itself, leave the Organization of American States and withdraw from all activities related to the Human Rights Council in order to avoid being held accountable for the grave crimes against humanity and human rights violations documented by the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua (GHREN), by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and by the organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System.

Over the past seven years, the recommendations of the Treaty Bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, and the orders issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have been completely disregarded and the State has absented itself from these forums, raising unfounded questions in an attempt to evade its international responsibilities.

However, Nicaragua continues to be bound by universal human rights instruments and the American Convention on Human Rights.

The international community, civil society organizations, and human rights protection bodies must continue to make every effort to ensure that democracy is soon restored in Nicaragua and that respect for human rights is guaranteed.

Let’s continue working hand in hand to make it happen!

Recent Reforms Intensify Political Persecution in Nicaragua and Exile, Warns the OHCHR

Geneva, December 9, 2024 – “A severe and repressive climate prevails in Nicaragua,” stated Nada Al-Nashif, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, during her oral update on the human rights situation before the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, December 9. In her statement, Al-Nashif warned that recent legal and constitutional reforms are consolidating power in the presidency and “paving the way for greater political persecution,” including against Nicaraguans in exile.

The Deputy High Commissioner noted that the recent legal reforms redefine crimes to include social media posts that “incite panic” or threaten “social stability.” They also classify cybercrimes as organized, authorize asset confiscation, and allow unrestricted access to personal data without police oversight.

The constitutional reforms approved by the National Assembly last month will increase executive interference in the legislative, judicial, and electoral branches. Al-Nashif described as “particularly atrocious” the removal of the explicit recognition of the prohibition of torture.

These changes aim to expand and strengthen government powers to strip people of their citizenship and confiscate assets, a tool already widely used to arbitrarily repress government critics and dissidents. Since February 2023, at least 546 people have been deprived of their nationality, had their assets confiscated, and been exposed to statelessness. Many of these individuals cannot renew their documentation, hindering their connection to their country. In addition, the Supreme Court stripped 135 former political prisoners of their nationality and assets, and exiled them to Guatemala in September.

Constant Pattern of Arbitrary Detentions, Torture, and Forced Disappearances

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented a consistent pattern of arbitrary detentions, torture, and forced disappearances. Currently, 76 people remain in detention for political reasons, including 20 indigenous people, and 30 individuals were arbitrarily detained in late November. Regarding forced disappearances, OHCHR highlighted the forced disappearance of Angélica Chavarría, a companion of the late retired General Humberto Ortega, since May 2024; the disappearance of Brooklyn Rivera, a member of the National Assembly from the indigenous YATAMA party, since September 2023; the disappearance of Steadman Fagoth Müller, presidential advisor on indigenous affairs, since September 2024; and the former colonel Victor Boitano (63 years old), who has been missing since April 2024.

“Forced disappearance, torture, and ill-treatment must cease unequivocally,” urged the Deputy High Commissioner.

Indigenous Peoples Exposed to Violence

The Deputy High Commissioner expressed deep concern over the ongoing attacks on indigenous peoples in the Autonomous Region of the North Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, fueled by violence from settlers or non-indigenous third parties. The murder of two Miskitos on November 8, and reports of sexual violence against indigenous children allegedly committed by settlers, reflect the severe insecurity they face.

The Deputy High Commissioner called for the immediate release of eight Mayangna rangers who have been detained in extreme conditions since 2021, “Authorities must take proactive measures to prevent violence, including sexual violence, and conduct thorough and independent investigations into all these incidents, holding perpetrators accountable.”

Finally, the Deputy High Commissioner called on “the international community, including all States committed to the region and those with influence, to intensify their efforts to support these objectives.” The Office also reiterated its commitment to providing technical assistance to Nicaragua.

Council Members Concerned about Nicaragua’s “Co-Presidency”

In the interactive dialogue with the Deputy High Commissioner, Council members and civil society organizations called for the immediate release of political prisoners, annulment of their judicial processes, restoration of citizens’ rights, and the lifting of restrictions on NGOs, media, and religious groups. Several delegations, including Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, Paraguay, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, among others, expressed deep concern over the recent legal and constitutional reforms, particularly the establishment of a “co-presidency” that centralizes power in one family.

“It is concerning to see the explicit elimination of powers, now simply referred to as organs, and the ability of the new co-presidents to coordinate with absolute and unlimited power… This new attack on Nicaraguan institutions must inevitably be interpreted as a near-final blow to democracy,” stated the Costa Rican delegation.

The United Kingdom described the recent constitutional reforms as “an additional tragic chapter in the deterioration of political civil rights and other human rights of Nicaraguans,” and called on Nicaraguan authorities to accept the recommendations made in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Canada urged the renewal of the High Commissioner’s and the Group of Experts’ mandates in March 2025. The European Union called on Nicaragua to expand its cooperation with both mandates and other human rights mechanisms “to fulfill its reporting obligations under the treaties it has ratified.”

From civil society organizations’ microphones, Tininiska Rivera, daughter of indigenous deputy Brooklyn Rivera, and Ingni Fagoth, daughter of Miskito leader Steadman Fagoth, denounced the forced disappearances of their fathers.

Tininiska also denounced the cancellation of the legal personality of the YATAMA party and the Moravian Church, as well as the illegal occupation of indigenous territories by armed settlers. She also pointed to the rise in violence against indigenous communities in 2024, including the murder of four rangers, the criminalization of 37, and the disappearance of indigenous leaders.

Ingni warned that her father’s detention by the Nicaraguan Army is part of a systematic and widespread attack against indigenous peoples for political reasons. “We demand justice… Our people are standing, but we need the support of the international community. Do not abandon Nicaragua’s indigenous people,” she urged.

Other organizations highlighted the arbitrary closure of more than 5,000 NGOs, 12 repressive laws passed in the past four months, 222 documented cases of torture, 452 cases of people arbitrarily stripped of their nationality, and the unemployment of at least 1,200 teachers and university staff, among others.

Statement

The oral update by the Deputy High Commissioner and the subsequent interventions by States and civil society organizations make it clear that the human rights crisis in Nicaragua has reached one of its most critical points. In this grave context, the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) supports the call by the Deputy High Commissioner to the international community to intensify efforts in support of the Nicaraguan population, with special attention to those in exile, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, and those who remain deprived of liberty for political reasons.

Impunity cannot prevail in the face of the systematic and severe human rights violations occurring in the country. We call on the United Nations and States committed to democracy and human rights to strengthen monitoring and protection mechanisms and to vote in favor of renewing the mandate of the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua (GHREN) in 2025. This mandate is essential for deepening the documentation of human rights violations, ensuring accountability, and strengthening international pressure in defense of the Nicaraguan population.

UPR: Nicaragua Denies Human Rights Violations in the Name of Sovereignty

Geneva, November 15, 2024 – The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) expresses deep concern over Nicaragua’s position at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council held on November 13. The State’s speech, far from showing any commitment to human rights, overlooked international reports on harassment against political opponents, activists, and journalists. Race and Equality urges the Nicaraguan government to accept the recommendations from other States and take concrete actions to ensure the protection and respect for human rights in the country.

During the UPR, Nicaraguan Attorney General Wendy Morales Urbina stated that the government promotes and protects human rights, highlighting “poverty reduction, gender equality, and expanded access to education and health.” The delegation also emphasized Nicaragua’s supposed commitment to international law and the UN Charter’s principles, focusing on “sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.”

In stark contrast to this stance, 51 out of 88 States raised serious concerns about the grave human rights situation in Nicaragua, offering recommendations to address these issues. Key concerns included the shrinking civic space, condemned by countries such as Germany, Spain, the United States, and Canada; arbitrary political arrests; and the unlawful deprivation of Nicaraguan nationality, practices denounced by Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile.

In response, the States issued 279 urgent recommendations, including the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners, ending arbitrary arrests, restoring civic space, and cooperating with international human rights mechanisms. Canada, for example, called on Nicaragua to respect constitutional rights, personal freedom, and protection from arbitrary detention and torture, demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners.

Chile recommended ending the practice of depriving individuals of nationality as a punitive measure and reinstating the nationality of those stripped of it. The United Kingdom urged Nicaragua to modify Law 1145, related to nationality and address concerns over recent reforms to the Criminal Code that allow the persecution and confiscation of assets from exiled Nicaraguans or foreigners accused of “crimes against the state.”

Other States focused on the human rights of historically vulnerable populations, such as Brazil, which highlighted the need to investigate and punish acts of violence against minorities, particularly Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. Norway called for immediate measures to prevent discrimination against Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and LGBTI persons, as well as to address gender-based violence.

Race and Equality is particularly alarmed by the lack of information regarding Indigenous leaders Brooklyn Rivera, a former legislator forcibly disappeared since September 2023, and his alternate, Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez, who remains arbitrarily detained in unknown conditions. The State’s first response to these cases was to claim Rivera was dismissed for abandoning his parliamentary duties and both were stripped of immunity for “investigation on grave crimes such as treason and spreading false news.”

Race and Equality is concerned about the opacity and lack of information regarding Rivera’s whereabouts, with no proof of life provided. These cases reveal a pattern of systematic harassment against human rights defenders under laws that criminalize dissent, particularly those representing vulnerable communities.

We are also concerned about the statement by the State of Nicaragua that it will not sign the Rome Statute, a position expressed in response to questions from other States. Nicaragua argued that this decision is due to the threat it poses to its sovereignty, stating that the protection of human rights is a matter of “exclusive jurisdiction” and that strengthening its national judicial system is the appropriate mechanism to ensure justice and respect for the rights of its citizens. This rejection of the “imposition of foreign jurisdictions to the detriment of its internal autonomy” reflects a stance that limits cooperation with international justice systems and undermines access to justice for victims of human rights violations, particularly in a local judicial system criticized for its lack of independence.

We also regret the State’s continued rejection of the work of the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua (GHREN), dismissing their reports as lacking value, credibility, and objectivity. In the session, the State expressed that its reports and updates “lack value and credibility, reflecting falsehoods, distorted facts, unilateral, biased, and without any objective basis,” reasons for which they do not accept its recommendations “which aim to interfere in Nicaragua’s internal affairs.”

Finally, Race and Equality urges the Nicaraguan government to accept and implement the recommendations provided by States during the UPR. We call on the international community to remain vigilant in ensuring compliance with these recommendations. It is critical that Nicaragua releases all political prisoners, guarantees freedom of expression and association, and cooperates with international bodies to ensure accountability for human rights violations.

Race and Equality reiterates its commitment to monitoring the situation in Nicaragua and supporting international efforts to ensure truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition for the victims of human rights violations since 2018, and to take the necessary steps to restore democracy and respect for human rights in Nicaragua.

At IACHR Hearing on Nicaragua: International Financial Institutions Inadvertently Fund Crimes Against Humanity

Washington, D.C., November 15, 2024 – “The international community and various funds from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) are inadvertently financing crimes against humanity,” stated Arif Bulkan, Special Rapporteur on Nicaragua for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), during the thematic hearing titled “Nicaragua: International Financial Support and Its Impact on Human Rights,” held on Thursday, November 14.

The hearing included representatives from the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), the Inter-American Dialogue, Fundación del Río, and Urnas Abiertas; commissioners from the IACHR; and members of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN).

Christina Fetterhoff, Director of Programs at Race and Equality, opened the session by outlining Nicaragua’s ongoing democratic and human rights crisis. She highlighted the Ortega-Murillo regime’s power consolidation, the closure of civic spaces, and systematic repression of dissent. “The regime has canceled the legal registration of over 5,400 civil society organizations out of the 7,200 that existed. However, despite extensive documentation of the crisis, international development projects funded by international financing have not been reviewed, suspended, or canceled,” warned Fetterhoff.

Marcelo Azambuja, Legal Program Officer at Race and Equality, revealed that the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) currently support 88 projects in Nicaragua worth $4.35 billion. Of these, fifty projects worth $2.7 billion were approved after 2018, when Nicaragua’s crisis intensified.
“None of these institutions has publicly addressed the crisis as a factor influencing the approval or monitoring of these projects,” Azambuja emphasized.

He also pointed out that international human rights law obliges IFIs to respect human rights by implementing due diligence measures to prevent adverse impacts. In Nicaragua, their failure to do so has violated freedom of expression through restricted access to public information about internationally funded development projects and policies.

Manuel Orozco, Director of Migration, Remittances, and Development at the Inter-American Dialogue, described the state capture in Nicaragua, where the Ortega-Murillo regime exploits state institutions and external debt for personal gain. Orozco highlighted that the regime’s authoritarian economy relies on fiscal revenue appropriation and extortion of the private sector.
He noted that Nicaragua’s reliance on external financing increased from 46% to 56% of GDP between 2017 and 2023, with public debt reaching nearly $9 billion.

Olga Valle, Director of Urnas Abiertas, emphasized that the authoritarian economic model and lack of public fund oversight have transformed the state into a vehicle for elite enrichment rather than public service. She urged IFIs to improve transparency mechanisms and adopt measures ensuring resources benefit Nicaraguans instead of the ruling elite.

Amaru Ruiz, Director of Fundación del Río, raised concerns about “green financing” directed to the Ortega-Murillo regime. Nicaragua currently manages 27 environmental projects worth $384.8 million, 66% of which are donations. Ruiz highlighted negative environmental impacts, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. He also called for greater oversight and monitoring of green financing projects to ensure transparency and respect for Indigenous and Afro-descendant rights.

Jan-Michael Simon, President of GHREN, noted the government’s systematic cancellation of 80% of nonprofit organizations’ legal status under the pretext of anti-terrorism measures. This reflects the regime’s inverted rule of law, he argued.

The hearing concluded with calls from Pedro Vaca, IACHR Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, for a thorough examination of how financial resources enable repression in Nicaragua.

The participating organizations recommended that the IACHR:

  • Issue a resolution on the scope of human rights obligations concerning international financial support.
  • Establish a working group between the IACHR, IFIs, and civil society organizations to address sustainable development and human rights in Nicaragua.
  • Publicly highlight the risks of adverse impacts from IFI-funded projects in Nicaragua.

UPR Nicaragua 2024: Race and Equality calls for strong recommendations in the face of systematic human rights violations in Nicaragua

Geneva, November 12, 2024.- The State of Nicaragua will be evaluated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council tomorrow, Wednesday, November 13. The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) urges the participating States of this space to make forceful recommendations in the face of the systematic violations that the State of Nicaragua continues to commit to the detriment of justice, peace, constitutional order, and human rights in the context of the violent repression carried out after the protests of April 2018.

During the last four-year cycle, Nicaragua has shown total contempt for the recommendations of international human rights protection mechanisms, as well as the resolutions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, maintaining an environment of repression and violation of fundamental rights, particularly for human rights defenders, women, journalists, and indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples.

In Nicaragua, human rights defenders are the target of state repression, despite the fact that the state claims to promote, defend, and protect constitutional guarantees and human rights. International organizations have documented at least 2,000 arbitrary detentions, and cases of torture and forced disappearances against people considered opponents, activists and critical journalists. According to the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners of Nicaragua, 46 people are currently deprived of liberty for political reasons, including three indigenous leaders from the Caribbean Coast: Nancy Henríquez, Brooklyn Rivera, and Steadman Fagot.

The Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) has also highlighted the expulsion and deprivation of Nicaraguan nationality of people considered critical of the regime, as well as the confiscation of their property and the restriction of access to Nicaraguan territory, in addition to facts and circumstances that constitute crimes against humanity. “particularly, persecution for political reasons.”

Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples continue to suffer invasions by settlers (non-indigenous third parties) without adequate state protection. The lack of implementation of the sanitation process for the eviction of illegal occupants has generated forced cohabitation between settlers and indigenous people, which has resulted in violent conflicts, forced displacements and murders of members of indigenous communities. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 643 cases of human rights violations were registered in these territories.

In addition, the State grants concessions for mining and agro-industrial activities without free, prior and informed consultations, which causes serious environmental damage and violates the rights of indigenous communities. These communities rarely benefit from the profits generated by such projects, thus perpetuating poverty and exclusion.

The absence of effective promotion and protection of women’s rights remains an alarming concern, especially in the face of the increase in cases of violence and femicide in the country. The lack of adequate response by the authorities to complaints of gender-based violence discourages victims from seeking justice. According to the Observatory of Catholics for the Right to Decide, so far in 2024 there have been 63 femicides.

It should be noted that government policies on gender are designed centrally, without consultation or effective participation of feminist organizations and rights defenders, who instead face state repression, criminalization, and harassment. This restriction of women’s participation in decision-making has resulted in a lack of sex education programmes and effective prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

In the area of the rights to freedom of expression and association, the Nicaraguan State has approved regulations, such as the Cybercrimes Law and its recent reform and the Foreign Agents Law, which limit fundamental freedoms by allowing state surveillance and the criminalization of activism and journalism. As a result, at least 278 independent journalists have left the country for fear of reprisals, according to the Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED).

Likewise, through these laws, the State has annulled the legal status of more than 5,000 organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provided health, education, and support services to vulnerable communities. With the disappearance of these organizations, entire communities have been left without access to social and health programs that depended on the work of NGOs, generating a direct impact on the well-being of the most vulnerable sectors.

Finally, the State of Nicaragua has a confrontational, non-collaborative stance and repeatedly despises spaces for dialogue in the name of “national sovereignty”, in addition to its rejection of accountability in the international arena. The State has ignored recommendations from international protection bodies and mechanisms and rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in disregard of its international obligations.

It has also expelled international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from the country, and has withdrawn from the Organization of American States (OAS). Finally, in the last two years Nicaragua has not submitted to the reviews of United Nations Treaty Bodies, such as the Committee Against Torture (CAT) or the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and in other cases, it has withdrawn as happened during the interactive dialogue with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. making unfounded accusations against the treaty body and its members.

For all of the above, within the framework of the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) urges the member states of the Human Rights Council to issue firm and effective recommendations that oblige the State of Nicaragua to comply with its international commitments in the field of human rights. Only

through coordinated and determined action will it be possible to generate true accountability and contribute to restoring justice, peace and respect for fundamental rights in the country.

We demand that the State of Nicaragua cease political persecution, immediately release all persons deprived of liberty for political reasons, restore the independence of the powers of the State, allow the work of human rights organizations and comply with its international commitments.

Nicaragua Faces Devastating Crisis in Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Organizations Warn Ahead of 2024 UPR

Geneva, November 7.- Nicaragua is currently facing a severe crisis in sexual and reproductive rights, particularly affecting girls and adolescent women. In preparation for Nicaragua’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Center for Reproductive Rights, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) organized the side event entitled “Current Challenges in Women’s Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Nicaragua” to raise awareness of the critical situation of sexual violence and reproductive injustice impacting women in this country.

The event included testimonies from Nicaraguan advocates Winnye Bernard and Ana Quirós, as well as interventions from representatives of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Five Girls Under 14 Give Birth Every Day

Paulina Jiménez opened the event by highlighting the alarming lack of access to reproductive health information and services in Nicaragua. “It is estimated that at least five girls under 14 give birth each day, and Nicaragua has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in Latin America, with 24.6% of mothers being  under 18 years old,” said Jiménez.

Jiménez referenced two cases presented by the Niñas No Madres Movement to the United Nations Human Rights Committee: two young Nicaraguan girls in situations of extreme vulnerability, victims of sexual violence and forced motherhood. These cases reflect the grave crisis Nicaragua faces regarding sexual and reproductive rights, where restrictive laws and the lack of adequate public policies perpetuate sexual violence and impunity.

Nicaraguan feminist activist and advocate Ana Quirós recounted how the criminal code, in effect since 2006, criminalizes abortion despite repeated efforts to align the law with international human rights standards.

Quirós noted that so far in 2024, there have been 64 femicides and 158 attempted femicides, “and no one is talking about this.” According to Quirós, this situation is one consequence of the frequent amnesties granted by the Ortega-Murillo regime, which in 2024 alone has released over 8,000 common prisoners, many of whom were convicted of sexual violence and assault against women. “The restriction on abortion is just one more example of the (Ortega and Murillo’s) regime’s disregard for women’s lives, health, and sexual and reproductive rights,” she concluded.

Dismantling of Civic Space Has Left Women Defenseless

Winnye Bernard Canales, women’s rights advocate and Deputy Head of Regional Office Latin America of the European International Network for Human Rights (RIDHE), indicated that the state repression unleashed since 2018 has left women unprotected, facing high-risk pregnancies without safe options and living in a hostile environment that normalizes sexual violence. “Women in Nicaragua not only face a legal and social system that denies them their rights, but also lack comprehensive sexual education programs, putting them at risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases,” she said.

Bernard detailed how the persecution of feminist organizations, the closure of women’s police stations, and the criminalization of human rights defenders have increased impunity and left women victims of violence without protection. “The lack of institutional support and social stigma create significant barriers for women seeking justice in cases of gender violence,” she added.

Andrés Sánchez Thorin, a representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, explained the devastating impact of the dismantling of civic space, which has severely affected women by depriving them of crucial support networks. “The progressive shutdown of more than 3,500 civil society organizations, many of which provided essential support to women, has left numerous women without access to critical services and support networks, exacerbating gender inequalities and increasing risks,” said Sánchez.

“This violation of rights is even more severe for detained women, who are entirely deprived of any access to sexual and reproductive health services, leaving them in a particularly vulnerable situation,” added the UN representative.

Calling on the Nicaraguan State to Comply with CEDAW Committee Recommendations

Ana Peláez Narváez, President of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), addressed the Committee’s recommendations following the review of Nicaragua’s seventh to tenth combined periodic reports, stressing the urgent need for reforms in several key areas.

Peláez emphasized that the legalization of abortion in specific cases, such as rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life, is among the Committee’s main recommendations. “Nicaragua must ensure access to safe, confidential, and stigma-free abortion services, as well as post-abortion care,” she stated.

The President noted that CEDAW has identified the urgent need to guarantee comprehensive sexual education for all ages within the education system, which is essential to prevent early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. She also explained that “it is fundamental for the State to ensure girls and adolescents the right to return to school after becoming mothers and to eliminate legal barriers that prevent them from accessing employment and health services.”

Finally, Peláez urged the Nicaraguan State to restore legislation that protects women and to reopen the space for civil society organizations that provide sexual and reproductive health services.

Statement

In a context of escalating repression and with the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) considers it urgent for the international community to issue a strong statement and demand firm commitments and concrete actions from the Nicaraguan government.

We urge the Nicaraguan State to comply with its international human rights obligations and implement reforms to ensure equality. Specifically, we demand:

  • Alignment of criminal legislation with international standards regarding sexual and reproductive rights.
  • Guaranteeing access to comprehensive sexual education and quality, accessible sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for women and girls in rural, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant communities.
  • An end to the criminalization of human rights defenders’ work, allowing the reopening and full operation of civil society organizations that work for women’s rights.
  • Restoration and strengthening of civic space, promoting a safe environment free from reprisals for those who defend and promote human rights in the country.

Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Calls for a Delegation to Investigate the Enforced Disappearance of Brooklyn Rivera in Nicaragua

Geneva, October 23, 2024 – At the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), delegates listened to the moving testimony of Tininiska Rivera Castellón, daughter of the Miskitu indigenous leader and YATAMA party deputy, Brooklyn Rivera Bryan, who has been forcibly disappeared since September 2023. The IPU Governing Council decided to request that the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians send a delegation to Nicaragua to meet with authorities from all branches of government, as well as other institutions or organizations that may provide information on the cases of Rivera and his alternate deputy, Nancy Henríquez.

Brooklyn Rivera Bryan was arbitrarily arrested at his home in Bilwi, and his whereabouts remain unknown. During her testimony, Tininiska highlighted her father’s legacy as a leader of the Miskitu community and tireless defender of indigenous territories. She also denounced the persecution her family has faced and called on parliamentarians worldwide to “take concrete action in my father’s case so that the Nicaraguan government provides proof of life and information on his whereabouts, his health status; and join the voices already demanding his immediate release.”

Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez James, also a Miskitu indigenous leader, took over Rivera’s parliamentary seat as his alternate in April 2023. On October 1, 2023, she was arrested by undercover police officers, and her whereabouts remained unknown for about two months. On December 13, 2023, she was sentenced to eight years in prison in a trial held inside the women’s prison “La Esperanza,” where she was denied legal representation.

To date, no legal proceedings have been initiated to terminate the parliamentary mandates of Brooklyn Rivera Bryan and Nancy Henríquez James in the Nicaraguan Parliament; however, both have been removed from the list of members of the National Assembly.

IPU Has Not Received Information from the Nicaraguan Assembly

According to the “Decisions of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians” document, the IPU formally requested information and official observations from the Nicaraguan National Assembly on both cases in April and September of this year; however, the Nicaraguan Parliament has yet to provide any information. The IPU encouraged the Nicaraguan National Assembly to engage in “a constructive and ongoing dialogue with the Committee to ensure a satisfactory and swift solution.”

The IPU expressed deep concern that Brooklyn Rivera’s disappearance is allegedly linked to his parliamentary activities as an opposition deputy and indigenous leader, as well as his participation in the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in April 2023. The IPU emphasized the responsibility of Nicaraguan authorities to thoroughly investigate his disappearance and ensure that his family is informed of his situation.

Regarding Nancy Henríquez, the Committee expressed concern over the serious violations of her right to a fair trial, as well as the deterioration of her health. The IPU called for her to receive urgent and appropriate medical treatment.

“Attacks and reprisals against parliamentarians for their work violate their fundamental rights and undermine the role of parliament as an institution,” states the Committee’s Decisions document.

IPU Mission to Nicaragua

The IPU Governing Council requested that the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians send a delegation to Nicaragua as soon as possible to meet with all authorities exercising legislative, executive, or judicial powers, as well as relevant prison authorities and any other institution, civil society organization, or individual in a position to provide relevant information on the case. The delegation was also tasked with visiting Nancy Henríquez in prison.

The Council expressed that it “sincerely hopes that the competent national authorities will fully cooperate and that the mission will swiftly contribute to finding satisfactory solutions to this case in accordance with applicable national and international human rights standards.”

Finally, the IPU called on all national parliaments, IPU Permanent Observers, human rights organizations, and the international community to take concrete action to help resolve these and other similar cases in Nicaragua.

Statement

From the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality), we support the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s commitment to defending the human rights of parliamentarians and promoting justice in Nicaragua. The increasing reports of political repression and persecution against indigenous leaders and political opponents in Nicaragua are alarming. We urge the international community to continue applying pressure to demand truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition, as well as the immediate release of Brooklyn Rivera and Nancy Elizabeth Henríquez.

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