Nicaragua has seen human rights violations since 2018, when university students and other civil society activists protested a new social security law and called for the president to resign.
The violent crackdown by security forces led by the government of President Daniel Ortega has resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and other rights, including an ‘armed’ legal systemaccording to independent human rights experts.
The new OHCHR reportwhich covered a period of 12 months from 15 June 2023, is based on 120 interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations, and on civil society and other meetings.
The report said that “The persecution of opponents of the government or those perceived as dissidents has gradually expanded and intensified.”
Report findings
OHCHRThe report shows that human rights defenders, independent media and other organisations working for political change without any government recognition are being persecuted by the authorities, after hundreds of civil society organisations were closed down.
“The authorities continue to prosecute not only those who express dissenting views, but also any individual or organization operating independently or not directly under their control,” the report said.
Last week, Nicaraguan authorities introduced a bill that would allow the prosecution of individuals who commit crimes such as money laundering or terrorism abroad, the report found.
This raises public concern that the law could be used to ‘pressure and intimidate exiled citizens and foreigners from the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression’and other rights.”
Increase in violence
The report describes about ten cases in which prisoners were tortured through various forms of sexual abuse and electric shocks.
Indigenous peoples and people of African descent have also experienced forms of violence, with at least two reported cases of killings by people seeking to seize land.
“The killings and other violent attacks, including gender-based violence, the deliberate burning of homes and illegal appropriation of indigenous lands and property, were carried out in a context of widespread impunity“, the report said.
Religious groups have also faced further “unnecessary restrictions,” including 27 Catholic priests and seminarians who were wrongly arrested between October 2023 and January 2024, the report said. In addition, many religious groups have had their legal status as nongovernmental organizations revoked.
A ‘multifaceted crisis’
OHCHR chief Volker Türk said the crisis that has affected Nicaragua since 2018 is multifaceted and there is a need for “urgent change of government policy”.
“It is distressing to see that public space in Nicaragua is still being seriously eroded“And how the exercise of fundamental civil and political rights is becoming increasingly difficult,” Mr. Türk said.
“The 2026 elections offer a new opportunity,” he continued. “It is crucial that the right to political participation is fully respected, so that Nicaraguans can decide safely and freely about the future of their country.”
The Human Rights Commissioner urges the government to immediately release all arbitrarily detained, ensure fair trials, end torture and ill-treatment, and restore the legal status of civil society organizations and opposition parties.
