Nicaragua derives its understanding of human rights from the Constitution of Nicaragua and international law. However, on 19th June 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council noted the serious human rights violations in Nicaragua and condemned the situation. The UN Human Rights Council also urged President Daniel Ortega to cease such tactics.
To put this into context, according to the Human Rights Watch, the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has dismantled nearly all institutional checks on presidential power since taking office in 2007. In April 2018, massive protests broke out around the country against the government. The National Police along with armed pro-government groups retaliated brutally to repress the protesters. This resulted in 328 deaths and more than 2,000 injured. In addition to this, many protesters were arbitrarily arrested and detained up to several months. It was reported that many were even subjected to torture and ill-treatment that included actions such as electric shocks, severe beatings, fingernail removal, asphyxiation, and rape.
Such activities are a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of those affected and had gained international attention from organisations such as the United Nations and Organization of American States.
The resolution passed by UN Human Rights Council in June 2020 said that the council “expresses grave concern at the continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses since April 2018, and the persisting disproportionate use of force by the police to repress social protests, and acts of violence by armed groups, as well as reports of ongoing unlawful arrests and arbitrary detentions, harassment, and torture and sexual and gender-based violence in detention.” The council also called for the independence of the judiciary and the human rights prosecutor’s office and for a plan to investigate reported human rights abuses since 2018. This resolution was approved with a vote of 24 to 4 with 19 abstentions.
Though the Nicaraguan government did not respond immediately, the opposition coalition Blue and White National Unity remarked that it was a step in the right direction.
Human rights defenders and other critics of the government’s human rights record have continued to be the targets of death threats, intimidation, harassment, surveillance, and assault. They have also been arrested and detained through processes marred by due process violations. The Blue and White National Unity notes that at least 60 political prisoners remain incarcerated.
With this resolution in place, it can be hoped that the wrongs done against the affected individuals are righted to uphold basic human rights.
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