“The multifaceted crisis that has affected Nicaragua since 2018 requires an urgent change of course by the government“We are in a crisis,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday, highlighting the serious erosion of civic space in the Central American country.
In a statement, Volker Türk said that It is increasingly difficult to exercise civil and political rights fundamental.
Türk made these statements in connection with the publication of a new report from his Office, which highlights the deterioration of human rights in Nicaragua since last year, with an increase in cases of arbitrary arrests, intimidation of opponents, ill-treatment in custody and attacks against indigenous peoples.
The study covers a one-year period beginning June 15, 2023.
Persecution of opponents
The document reports that the persecution of opponents of the government or those perceived as dissident voices has progressively expanded and intensified, and that the authorities They persecute not only those who express dissenting opinionsbut also any person or organization acting independently or not directly under its control, including human rights defenders, independent media, non-governmental organizations and any other entity advocating social or political change without government oversight.
The report expresses concern about a bill introduced last week by authorities that, if approved, would allow the prosecution of persons abroad for alleged crimes such as money laundering, terrorism and its financing or cybercrimes.
The publication warns that such broad laws can be used to further pressure and intimidate Nicaraguan exiles and foreigners from legitimately exercising their right to freedom of expression or other rights.
Arbitrary detentions
According to data from the Human Rights Office, as of last May,131 people considered to be opponents were under arbitrary detention, lThis represents a marked increase compared to the 54 people in June 2023. Ten more arbitrary arrests took place in June and July 2024.
The report cites the case of a 70-year-old man arrested in the city of Matagalpa in October 2023 for criticizing the government in informal conversations. whereabouts remained hidden for a monthbefore being sentenced to seven years in prison for arms trafficking, in a trial that did not guarantee his right to a fair trial.
He also reports that an academic remains in whereabouts unknown since November 20, 2023when he was arrested in Managua, following a social media post in which he criticized the government.
Document also twelve cases of torture and ill-treatment in detention. In particular, seven detainees reported being subjected to rape, sexual abuse and electric shocks. Three of them reported strangulation of the testicles, while all showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Attacks on indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples
Furthermore, the Human Rights Office has received reports of violence committed against indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in the autonomous regions of the Caribbean Coast, recording at least two murders perpetrated by settlers who do not belong to these communities and seek to control their lands.
“The murders and others Violent attacks, including gender-based violence, deliberate burning of homes and the illegal appropriation of indigenous lands and properties took place in a context of widespread impunity,” the report notes.
Priests arrested
Another sphere subject to undue restrictions in Nicaragua is the religious sphere, with At least 27 Catholic priests and seminarians arbitrarily detained between October 2023 and January 2024. A group of 31 clerics were expelled from the country after being detained for various periods.
The authorities also They have revoked the legal status of numerous religious organizations, as part of a broader trend of arbitrary cancellations of NGO legal status. During the reporting period, more than 300 organisations, including some advocating for women’s rights, had their legal status revoked. By August 2024, another 1,700 organisations had been closed, bringing the total number of organisations dissolved to more than 5,000 since 2018.
It is crucial that the right to political participation is respected
The High Commissioner urged the Nicaraguan government to Immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and ensure fair trials and due process for accused persons, and a safe and voluntary return for exiled persons.
Türk also called on the authorities to put an end to torture and ill-treatmentthat perpetrators be held accountable, that all forms of persecution cease and that the legal status previously enjoyed by civil society organisations and opposition parties be restored.
According to Türk, the elections to be held in 2026 represent a new opportunity. “It is crucial that the right to political participation is fully respected so that Nicaraguans can decide the future of their country with security and freedom,” he said.
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