AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms: third evaluation at the UN

Thursday, 16 May 2019 human rights social situation politics

Fides

NICARAGUA

2024-01-18
16 non-governmental organizations dissolved, including some Catholic organizations

2024-01-15
Release of bishops, priests and seminarians detained by the Nicaraguan government

2023-09-21
Against the ‘Managua Wall’, the Holy See Can Rely on Traditional Diplomatic Tactics

2023-07-06
Rumors of Bishop Álvarez's alleged release denied

2023-05-31
Nuns who ran an educational center expelled. "the Church is in the hands of the Holy Spirit"

2023-05-26
Another sacrilegious act against sacred places: already 90 since the beginning of 2023

Geneva (Agenzia Fides) - The murder of 325 Nicaraguans by the regime of Daniel Ortega, since April 18 2018, the torture of political prisoners and the brutal attacks against freedom of expression, were documented yesterday by national and international organizations for the human rights as from diplomatic delegations, in the framework of the evaluation of Nicaragua by UPR, Universal Periodic Review, at the United Nations Office, at Geneva.
UPR was created by the UN General Assembly on March 15, 2006, and is one of the key elements to remind states of their responsibility to respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The UPR takes place every four years and consists of the evaluation of compliance with the treaties, agreements and laws signed by the UN member countries, as well as the follow-up given to the recommendations made by the various nations. The three reports underpinning the UPR are: an official report submitted by the evaluated State, the compilation of reports by experts and international working groups, including UN diplomatic missions, and information provided by human rights organizations, at a national and international level.
Nicaragua is one of the 14 states examined for the third time by the UPR working group: the first and second review took place in February 2010 and in May 2014. In 2014, the State of Nicaragua had accepted 161 recommendations, "many of which continue to be particularly relevant in the context of the current crisis", according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner. "The situation compared to the last evaluation has changed drastically and a rigorous evaluation is planned for the multiple violations of human rights that the people of Nicaragua are experiencing", explained a diplomatic source to the international press.
Human rights organizations, based in Geneva, have preliminarily reported that they have received more than 60 reports, dozens of complaints and notes on the human rights situation in the country under President Ortega.
Fides received the intervention of the Vatican representative, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, who said: "The Holy See hopes that the parties participating in the dialogue will be able to continue, in order to find a solution to the current situation. The Holy See, together with the local Catholic Church, is committed to working with institutions to ensure peace throughout Nicaragua".
Therefore the Archbishop made some recommendations: "To offer public education to children, especially, to those who live in rural areas. The police, the army and the institutions of justice must respect the law, limiting the activities of the military forces to security. There must be no mistreatment in prisons. To respect the right to public gathering and freedom of the press. Health care must be guaranteed for all, without exclusion for political reasons, and the freedom of health personnel has to be respected".
The UPR working group intends to approve the recommendations to Nicaragua tomorrow, May 17, and it is expected that the result of this evaluation will be announced during the 34th session of the Human Rights Council, next November. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 16/05/2019)