A coalition of international and Nicaraguan NGOs celebrated this Thursday that the UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution that will establish a group of three experts to investigate possible human rights violations in Nicaragua in the context of the crisis that began in 2018.
In April 2018, a popular revolt broke out described as an attempted coup by the Government of Daniel Ortega.
“From Colectivo 46/2 we celebrate the establishment of an investigation and accountability mechanism for Nicaragua,” said Natalia Yaya, of the NGO International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in a written statement.
He welcomed the leadership of the countries of the region that presented that resolution, as well as the support of Argentina and Mexico.
The resolution, approved with 20 votes in favor of member countries, 7 against and 20 abstentions, decides the formation of this investigation mechanism with the mandate to “collect, preserve and analyze information and evidence” on these possible human rights violations, “identifying those responsible”.
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With an initial mandate of one year, this mission will have a task similar to that approved in 2019 for Venezuela through another resolution of the Human Rights Council, making it the second investigative mechanism of this type for Latin American countries.
The resolution had been presented by Ecuador, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Peru, and has been sponsored by nearly fifty governments.
“FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY”
“This mechanism was the logical, necessary and expected next step to take to address the impunity that continues to fuel serious human rights violations in Nicaragua,” said Ligia Gómez, spokesperson for the Nicaraguan organization Urnas Abiertas.
“Faced with a government that has closed all channels of cooperation with the UN, deepening the crisis within the country, the international community paves the way for future justice processes with the creation of this mechanism,” he added.
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According to the president of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh), Vilma Núñez, “Nicaragua has been immersed in a deep human rights crisis for more than four years, which has been analyzed in detail by the Human Rights Council.”
In this context, “the authorities have shown no intention of cooperating with the United Nations or with the inter-American human rights system,” he added.
For Juan Carlos Arce, from the NGO Human Rights Collective Nicaragua Never Again, this mechanism “is a tool for the defense of rights and the fight against impunity, as well as support for victims.”
NGO: MESSAGE FOR STATES IN VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
“It is essential to ensure that the serious violations committed during the 2018 protests, including murders, torture, assaults and other acts of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as other abuses, including those against indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, are not left behind. unpunished”, declared, for her part, Tania Agosti, from the NGO on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality).
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“The mechanism adopted today by the Council is one of the strongest in existence: it will allow the identification of those responsible for the violations committed in Nicaragua, and preserve evidence for future justice processes,” said Raphael Viana David, of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR). ).
“It sends a clear message to all states that non-cooperation with the universal system, and disregard for serious human rights violations, will not be tolerated,” he added.
The resolution calls on the Nicaraguan authorities to cease arbitrary arrests and intimidation, the immediate release of those unjustly detained, and the investigation of cases of harassment of political leaders, journalists, activists, and other critics of the government of President Daniel Ortega.
It expressly mentions and regrets the recent death of political prisoner Hugo Torres, a historic former Sandinista guerrilla who died on February 12 after months of detention “in outrageous conditions.”
