The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Special Rapporteurships point out that the Nicaraguan regime, with the conviction against former workers and former directors of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation (FVBCH), intends to continue closing the country’s civic space.
In addition, they reject the recent cancellation of legal personality to 25 civil society organizations. The Ortega dictatorship has “accelerated the closure of public space in Nicaragua,” they highlight.
At release, the agencies reject the prison sentences imposed against the people linked to the FVBCH case. They assure that “this judicial decision is inserted in a context of measures adopted by the Executive through the competition of different state institutions aligned and directed by the Executive to close the civic space.”
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The actions of the Ortega regime “seriously attack organizations that defend human rights, freedom of association and expression,” they denounce.
“According to information from the Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI), at least 135 organizations have been closed in a forced way since December 2018 ”, they indicate.
The IACHR and its Special Rapporteurships reiterate that the Ortega administration has concentrated power in the Executive and, as a consequence, has broken the rule of law in Nicaragua.
They warn that “the massive and forced closure of civil society organizations, foundations, universities, cooperation and development agencies, feminist groups, medical unions, among others; negatively impact in the Nicaraguan population since it leaves them in a state of defenselessness and greater vulnerability for the defense of their rights, and discourage any form of association and expression of dissent.
Concern about illegalization of NGOs
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELAY) expressed concern about the cancellation of the legal personality of the Nicaraguan Journalists Association (APN) and the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation (FVBCh), and the previous cancellation of PEN Nicaragua.
It underlines that the three organizations promoted “freedom of expression and the promotion of quality journalism in the country.”
«Both the FVBCH and PEN Nicaragua were forced to cease their operations in February 2021 as a result of the Foreign Agents Law, regulations questioned by the RELE and United Nations Rapporteurs for being contrary to international standards on the matter, “indicates the RELE.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) condemned the illegalization of the Alexander von Humboldt Center (Humboldt Center), the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides) and the Operation Smile Association.
Regarding these entities, he emphasizes that their purpose was “the defense of the environment and the territories against climate change, the eradication of poverty and the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.”
Likewise, it mentions “the Humboldt Center also serves as the regional coordinator of the Climate Action Network for Latin America (CANLA in English), which encompasses a broad network of civil society organizations that coordinate efforts to promote and defend climate actions. from a rights approach in the region”.
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Regarding the cancellation of the Center for Justice and Human Rights of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (CEJUDHCAN) they emphasize that the organization “has historically contributed to the defense of the rights of the indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples and communities of the Caribbean Coast.”
Likewise, they demand from the regime of Daniel Ortega the release of all political prisoners and the cessation of “judicial, administrative or any other kind of persecution against people and organizations that carry out legitimate activities, of democratic relevance and, therefore, specially protected by international law.
