Nicaragua
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Nicaragua: solicitamos al Consejo que establezca un mecanismo de investigación y rendición de cuentas en su próxima Sesión
Actualización de la Alta Comisionada acerca de la situación en Nicaragua emitida en el período entre sesiones.
Por Debora Leao, investigadora en el programa CIVICUS
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Nicaragua: Systematic repression of civil society and human rights defenders continues
Statement at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Interactive Debate on Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)'s Report on Nicaragua
Delivered by Róisín Dunbar, CIVICUS
Thank you, Mr President,
CIVICUS welcomes the report by OHCHR on the human rights situation in Nicaragua, which documents the systematic repression of civic space as also reported by CIVICUS.
The seizure of the Central American University (UCA) is yet another example of the Nicaraguan authorities flouting of the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. We condemn the continued misuse of counterterrorism legislation to repress dissenting voices.
While the authorities released 222 political prisoners in February, the practice of arbitrary arrests and detention has continued in Nicaragua, including on accusations of conspiracy, treason and spreading of fake news. We are also concerned by the chilling effect such measures have had on Nicaraguan society, as noted by OHCHR in this report.
Werepeat our call on the government of Nicaragua to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and to fully respect the fundamental civic freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression.
The revocation of the legal personality of 1,988organisations within 10 months as reported by OHCHR is also of grave concern. We urge the Nicaraguan authorities to repeal Laws No. 1040 on foreign agents and General Law No. 115 on the regulation of non-profitorganisations, and respect individuals right to freely associate.
High Commissioner, in light of Nicaragua’s complete lack of engagement with Human Rights Council mechanisms, couldyou pleaseadvisehow Statescanprotect academic freedom and support civil society actors documenting and reporting on human rights violations and abuses?
Civic space in Nicaragua is rated as 'closed' by the CIVICUS Monitor
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Nicaragua: The Council must establish an investigation and accountability mechanism at its next Session
High Commissioner’s intersessional update on Nicaragua
Delivered by Debora Leao, CIVICUS Monitor Research Officer for the Americas
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Nicaragua: the Council must renew the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts
Statement at the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Interactive Dialogue with the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua
Delivered by Amaru Ruiz
Thank you, Mr. President.
CIVICUS and Fundación del Rio welcome the report of the Group of Human Rights Experts.
We very much welcome the release of 222 political prisoners, but we are alarmed by the decision to banish and strip them and 95 other government critics, journalists, and human rights defenders of Nicaraguan citizenship, and the confiscation of their assets. I am one of these 317 citizens who are now stateless. Let’s not forget the 38 political prisoners still arbitrarily detained by the government, including Monsignor Rolando Álvarez.
The status of civic space in the country is dire and further deteriorating due to the Government’s concerted effort to stifle every form of dissenting opinion. Since early 2022, the Ministry of Interior has cancelled the legal status of over 3,200 non-governmental organizations, representing 45% of existing legal entities prior to April 2018.
The situation is further worsened by the government’s complete refusal to cooperate and engage with international human rights bodies. The many recommendations received by the Government to end impunity for grave abuses and to desist from using arbitrary detentions as a mean to suppress dissent, have been shamefully and deliberately disregarded by the Government. The government has also ignored calls repeal legal frameworks that violate civil and political rights.
In light of the appalling human rights violations and impunity, and of lack of cooperation, the Group of Experts and the OHCHR’s mandates are more important than ever as they remain the only mechanisms able to gather evidence of and report on human rights violations and provide recommendations for necessary action. We urge the Council to renew the mandate of the Group of Expert for two years and extend OHCHR mandate.
We thank you.
Civic space in Nicaragua is rated as "Closed" by the CIVICUS Monitor
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Nicaragua: Un mes después, Medardo Mairena Sequeira sigue detenido
La alianza global de la sociedad civil CIVICUS se muestra seriamente preocupada por la prolongada detención del defensor de los derechos humanos nicaragüense, Medardo Mairena Sequeira. Medardo fue detenido hace un mes durante una oleada de arrestos de activistas y personas que manifestaron su deseo de presentar su candidatura a la Presidencia en el contexto de las elecciones presidenciales, previstas para noviembre de 2021.
“El presidente Daniel Ortega lleva demasiado tiempo utilizando los mecanismos del Estado en contra de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos, los periodistas y los miembros de la oposición política, con el fin de reprimir la libertad de expresión y prolongar su permanencia en el poder. Ahora, a pocos meses de las elecciones de noviembre de 2021, este recrudecimiento de la represión pretende silenciar a la oposición política para garantizar su victoria cuando los nicaragüenses voten. La comunidad internacional debe tomar medidas ahora para evitar un mayor deterioro de los derechos humanos”, ha declarado David Kode, responsable de incidencia política y de campañas de CIVICUS.
Además de Medardo, entre los detenidos se encuentran los dirigentes sindicales Freddy Navas Lopes, Pablo Morales y Pedro Joaquín Mena. La mayoría de los detenidos están acusados de complicidad en el secuestro y asesinato de policías en 2018 durante las protestas multitudinarias que recorrieron Nicaragua ese año. Las autoridades afirman que están investigando a los detenidos por incitación a la injerencia extranjera y violación de la soberanía nacional.
Asimismo, la policía realizó una redada en el domicilio de las líderes feministas Dora María Téllez y Ana Margarita Vijil, a las que arrestó. Ambas son miembros del partido de la oposición “Unamos”. Los dirigentes y miembros de Unamos han sido, desde hace varios meses, víctimas de detenciones y encarcelamientos arbitrarios. Las autoridades también han prohibido viajar a otros miembros de la oposición política y de la sociedad civil, además de congelar sus cuentas bancarias.
Contexto
Desde 2018, el gobierno del presidente Ortega ha desencadenado una crisis sociopolítica y de derechos humanos en Nicaragua. Las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos, los periodistas y los miembros de la oposición política han sido víctimas de actos de intimidación, arrestos y detenciones por parte de agentes de seguridad. En marzo de 2021, el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas adoptó una Resolución en respuesta a las violaciones de derechos humanos que renueva y refuerza el escrutinio de Nicaragua. En febrero de 2021, también se incluyó a Nicaragua en la Lista de Vigilancia (Monitor Watch List) de CIVICUS, a causa de la preocupación suscitada por el rápido deterioro del espacio cívico del país. A unos meses de las elecciones de noviembre, las autoridades han aumentado sus ataques contra miembros de la oposición política, personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y periodistas.
El espacio cívico de Nicaragua se clasifica como "represivo" por el CIVICUS Monitor, nuestra plataforma en línea que evalúa el estado de las libertades cívicas en todos los países.
*Crédito de la foto: Jorge Mejía peralta
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Nicaragua: UN must take action as over 100 activists remain in prison
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council delivered by Amaru Ruiz, Fundación del Río
The crisis in Nicaragua persists and systematic repression of demonstrations has effectively suppressed mobilisations. As a result, the CIVICUS monitor has included Nicaragua on its Watchlist of countries. Human rights defenders, journalists, and political opponents face criminalisation and harassment from security agents and pro-government civilian groups. At the end of 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported that there were still more than 100 political prisoners in Nicaragua.
While hundreds of political prisoners were released in 2019 and 2020, many are still subjected to surveillance, retaliation and re-imprisonment. In recent months there has been an increase in the use of common criminal charges, such as possession of drugs and weapons, to convict those perceived as opponents of the government while denying their status as political prisoners.
The Nicaraguan authorities have tried to silence the independent press, including by arresting journalists and seeking to curtail their activities. Since late 2020, pro-government lawmakers have stepped up attacks on civil society, enacting a series of laws designed to reduce the space for freedoms of association, assembly and expression. Such laws include the Foreign Agents Law, the Special Law on Cyber Crimes, and an amendment to the country's Penal Code that allows preventive detention without charges for up to 90 days.
A recent report on freedom of association by Fundación del Rio and Fundación Popolna revealed the process of systematic deterioration of an enabling environment for social organisations, with patterns of lack of access to justice and due process. This situation is leading to the eventual forced closure of several Nicaraguan civil organisations and the departure from the country of international organisations unwilling to submit to the legal framework of criminalisation that has been institutionalised.
With elections set for later this year, we are seriously concerned that repression will escalate, putting human rights defenders and broader civil society at even greater risk.
The member states of the Human Rights Council should support a strong resolution calling for greater monitoring by the High Commissioner to promote accountability processes and prevent the situation from deteriorating further as Nicaragua heads toward elections.
Nicaragua is rated as 'Repressed' by the CIVICUS Monitor
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Nicaragua: Urgent call to stop judicial persecution of HRD Medardo Mairena Sequeira
Medardo Mairena Sequeira, who appeared in court yesterday to face trumped charges, was found guilty of conspiracy to undermine National integrity.
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Nicaragua: Violence and repression continue
42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
-Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Nicaragua
-Joint statement from CIVICUS & RedLadIt has been more than a year since the crisis began in Nicaragua, and violence and repression continue unabated. Thousands have been arbitrarily detained and hundreds have been criminalized for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. A recent report, “The Articulation of Social Movements of Nicaragua,” identifies two new phases of political repression during 2019: harassment of activists, restriction of public freedoms and extrajudicial executions.
CIVICUS and REDLAD welcome the recent release of political prisoners. However, the Amnesty Law under which they were released establishes that no investigation will be carried out to investigate the use of lethal violence by the State to repress the protests, perpetuating impunity for those responsible for these crimes. The report of the Articulation of Social Movements of Nicaragua indicates that there are still 121 political prisoners and prisoners held by the Nicaraguan State.
Further attacks on civic space are ongoing. Repression of dissenting voices through arrest, shutting down of protests and closing of organisations represent an alarming unwillingness of the government to engage with and listen to those it governs.
Human rights violations remain widespread in rural and cross-border territories of the country. The environment for those who live in communities under militarized police forces is particularly dire, resulting in persecution of citizens who participate in protests, sieges by the National Police, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and harassment of authorities of opposition municipalities.
Like the High Commissioner, we are concerned at the lack of political will to guarantee truth, justice and reparation for the victims of repression and their families. There are no guarantees that the negotiations will be restarted, which were canceled unilaterally by the government, or that the commitments agreed between the parties will be fulfilled.
In this climate, international scrutiny on Nicaragua remains as crucial now as ever. Nicaragua is falling far short on its responsibility to ensure accountability and justice. We welcome the OHCHR’s continued monitoring and reporting on Nicaragua and call on the Council to establish an independent investigative mechanism as the first step towards accountability for crimes and redress for those affected.
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Outcomes from the UN Human Rights Council...to be continued
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 43rd Session, which was scheduled to run from 24 Feb – 20 March, was suspended after three weeks on 13 March until further notice.
CIVICUS fully supports the suspension of the Session on public health grounds, and the precautionary measures taken before the suspension. However, we remain concerned that public participation in the Council risks being disproportionately affected, especially in light of the decision to cut General Debates from the 44th Session (June), which removes a key platform for civil society to engage with governments. The UN depends on information from the ground in order to make evidence-based decisions, and we call on states to take steps to ensure that the participation of civil society is not compromised.In Nicaragua, a human rights crisis has seen hundreds of thousands flee the country and an ongoing crackdown against human rights organisations, community leaders, and journalists. The situation is compounded by a lack of political will from the government to engage with regional or international mechanisms, or to ensure accountability. CIVICUS welcomes that the draft resolution on Nicaragua tabled during the Session would provide a mandate for enhanced monitoring and reporting by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) on the situation at this critical time, and we urge all states to support this resolution when the Session resumes.
We also call on states to support the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. The 43rd session marked the final one for the current Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, and we thank her for her outstanding work during her mandate. Myanmar has undergone significant developments in its human rights framework since the Special Rapporteur began her term – from elections in 2015 which saw a groundswell of hope for positive change, to the dawning realisation of crimes against humanity against the Rohingya in Rakhine state. But the curtailment of fundamental freedoms and total crackdown on any criticism of authorities has remained grimly consistent. Those on the ground, the human rights defenders and activists who are trying to achieve change, need international support from the Human Rights Council.
In late 2019, Iran erupted into a series of protests against the lack of political and democratic freedoms and the deteriorating economic situation. Protesters were met with violent repression through mass arrests and lethal force. When the Session resumes, the Human Rights Council will vote on extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran. We welcome support shown by states so far for the renewal of the mandate, and we urge adoption of this resolution when the Session continues.
What is a Special Rapporteur?
Special Rapporteur is a title given to an independent expert who works on behalf of the United Nations who has a specific country or thematic mandate from the Human Rights Council. Special Rapporteurs often conduct fact-finding missions to countries to investigate allegations of human rights violations. They can only officially visit countries that have agreed to invite them. Aside from fact-finding missions, Rapporteurs regularly assess and verify complaints from alleged victims of human rights violations.The mandates for Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression and opinion, and on human rights defenders, are set to be renewed when the Session resumes. We encourage all member and observer states to show their full support for these mandates by co-sponsorsing the resolutions.
Just prior to the suspension of the Session, Mary Lawlor was appointed as new Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. We look forward to working with her as she protects those on the frontline of defending human rights around the world, and we thank Michel Forst, the outgoing mandate holder, for his tireless work.
Towards the beginning of the Session, the High Commissioner’s update on Sri Lanka highlighted ongoing impunity for past grave human rights abuses in the country. The new Sri Lankan government, which came into power in 2019, has said that it intends to renege on Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 which provided commitments to accountability, truth and reconciliation. The human rights space in Sri Lanka has deteriorated sharply under the new administration, and the undermining of this resolution – currently the only route to ensuring transitional justice in Sri Lanka – would not only be fatal to victims and their families, but also a significant setback to the UN itself. We urge states to strongly encourage Sri Lanka to uphold its commitments and reiterate calls for an international accountability mechanism to ensure that accountability remains a possibility.
Although India was not on the official agenda of this Session, the ongoing crackdown on Kashmir, a discriminatory citizenship law and violent suppression of protests proved an ongoing issue throughout the Session.
CIVICUS, FORUM-ASIA, ISHR, FIDH, OMCT and ICJ organized a side event to discuss the current situation and ways in which the international community, including the Council, could contribute to constrictive progress. With key partners, CIVICUS also joined important statements on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as well as on India’s recent discriminatory citizenship law, and we were encouraged to see several states raise their own concerns about India during debates.
Civic space ratings by CIVICUS Monitor Open Narrowed Obstructed Repressed Closed Our joint and stand alone country statements at the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council Angola Burundi El Salvador Eritrea Fiji India Iraq Iran Jammu & Kashmir Madagascar Myanmar Nicaragua Sri Lanka See all statements -
Persecution of rural protest movement leaders continue as crisis deepens in Nicaragua
- Three campesino environmental activists mistreated in detention, awaiting trial
- UN report confirms continued targeting of campesino leaders by government
- UN staff expelled from Nicaragua after UN report on protesters’ rights abuses
- More than 320 people killed since violent crackdown on protests began in April
- Global rights groups urge authorities to drop all charges, release campesinoleaders
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Preocupación grave por las constantes violaciones de los derechos humanos en Nicaragua y la falta de rendición de cuentas de los autores
Su excelencia António Guterres
Secretario general de las Naciones Unidas
405 East 42nd Street, Nueva York, NY,
10017, Estados Unidos, 30
Estimado secretario general:
Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de diferentes regiones aquí firmantes nos dirigimos a usted para llamar su atención sobre la continua erosión del Estado de derecho y las violaciones sistemáticas de los derechos humanos en Nicaragua. El presidente Daniel Ortega y su partido, el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), están llevando a cabo una campaña sostenida contra las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y la oposición política, y están silenciando cualquier voz alternativa.
Las instituciones independientes, como el poder judicial y otros organismos públicos, están controladas por el gobierno, lo que hace imposible que el presidente Ortega y su administración rindan cuentas por las violaciones de derechos humanos que perpetúan. El gobierno ha ignorado en reiteradas ocasiones las recomendaciones regionales e internacionales para poner fin a estas violaciones de los derechos humanos y, si no se toman medidas con urgencia, no quedará ningún margen para que la sociedad civil y las voces independientes puedan actuar. En concreto, nos preocupan las siguientes cuestiones:
Cancelación sin precedentes de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y restricciones a la libertad de asociación
Nos preocupa que, en los últimos cuatro años, las autoridades nicaragüenses han atacado sistemáticamente a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y han ilegalizado más de 400 ONG acusándolas de socavar el régimen, de actuar como «agentes extranjeros» o de no presentar estados financieros. El número y tipo de organizaciones afectadas no tiene precedentes e incluye organizaciones que prestan una asistencia muy necesaria para mejorar la salud infantil, organizaciones que trabajan en proyectos de desarrollo para comunidades rurales y grupos excluidos y marginados y organizaciones de ayuda humanitaria. Por ejemplo, en 2021 cancelaron la personería jurídica del Colectivo de Mujeres Matagalpan, que prestó una atención muy necesaria a mujeres, niños, niñas, bibliotecas y hogares comunitarios durante más de tres décadas. Otro ejemplo es la Federación Coordinadora Nicaragüense de ONG que Trabajan con la Niñez y la Adolescencia, que agrupó a organizaciones dedicadas a promover los derechos de los niños, niñas y adolescentes durante más de tres décadas.
También se han visto afectadas muchas organizaciones de derechos humanos, grupos ecologistas, asociaciones profesionales, instituciones culturales y educativas y organizaciones religiosas. El ataque a estas organizaciones ha sido precedido y respaldado por una serie de decretos auspiciados por el FSLN. Por ejemplo, en mayo de 2022, la Asamblea Nacional aprobó cuatro decretos legislativos que conllevaron la cancelación de la personería jurídica de 94 organizaciones de la sociedad civil y fundaciones. Las autoridades han seguido cometiendo este tipo de actos, apropiándose de los bienes de algunas organizaciones, entre ellas el Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos.
Para restringir aún más el derecho a la libertad de asociación, las autoridades promulgaron el 6 de mayo de 2022 la Ley General de Regulación y Control de Organismos sin Fines de Lucro. Esta ley impone restricciones adicionales para el registro de organizaciones y otorga al gobierno la facultad de exigir información sobre las actividades, la financiación y los beneficiarios de las mismas. Las autoridades nicaragüenses están facultadas para autorizar las actividades de las organizaciones antes de que se lleven a cabo y las organizaciones tienen prohibido participar en actividades políticas, lo cual se define en términos generales.
Criminalización de los medios de comunicación independientes y ataques contra periodistas
Nos preocupa la constante censura de los medios de comunicación independientes y las intimidaciones y detenciones de periodistas. Desde el 2018, se han cerrado más de 20 medios de comunicación y al menos 120 periodistas han huido de Nicaragua para evitar las represalias del Estado. El 10 de junio de 2022, el periodista Juan Lorenzo Holmann, del diario La Prensa, fue condenado a nueve años de prisión por «lavado de dinero». Fue arrestado en agosto de 2021. El 16 de febrero, el periodista Miguel Mendoza fue condenado a nueve años de prisión e inhabilitado para ejercer cargos políticos tras ser declarado culpable de «conspiración para cometer menoscabo a la integridad nacional» y «difusión de noticias falsas».
Persecución judicial, intimidación y detención de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y miembros de partidos políticos
El régimen del FSLN ha mantenido una campaña de represión, persecución y detención de personas defensoras de los derechos humanos, activistas miembros de la oposición política y personas críticas con el gobierno. En el periodo previo a las elecciones, decenas de personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y de la oposición política fueron detenidas y acusadas de delitos relacionados con la seguridad en virtud del Código Penal y el derecho soberano. En su mayoría, los juicios de las personas detenidas se caracterizan por ser irregulares y, en muchos casos, no se celebran en los tribunales, sino en la Dirección de Auxilio Judicial (DAJ) de la cárcel también conocida como El Chipote.
La mayoría de los juicios se apresuran y las sentencias de los detenidos se dictan sin el debido proceso. Entre los condenados se encuentra el activista Yader Parajón, que exigía justicia para las víctimas de la represión gubernamental y fue declarado culpable de «conspiración para cometer menoscabo a la integridad nacional» el 2 de febrero de 2022. Ana Margarita Vijil, activista feminista y expresidenta del grupo opositor Unamis, fue condenada el 2 de febrero de 2022. La persecución y detención de activistas continúa pese a que la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) ha expresado su preocupación por las condiciones deplorables e inhumanas a las que son sometidos, incluidas las de las mujeres. Debido a estas restricciones, el Monitor CIVICUS califica el espacio cívico de Nicaragua como Cerrado.
Por tanto, le pedimos que inste al gobierno de Nicaragua a:
- Revertir todas las políticas y leyes restrictivas utilizadas para ilegalizar las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y crear un entorno propicio para que puedan actuar sin temor a sufrir represalias.
- Levantar todas las restricciones y organizaciones de la sociedad civil impuestas por el gobierno para que puedan seguir realizando sus actividades.
- Poner en libertad a todas las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos, miembros de la oposición política, activistas y detenidos y retirar todos los cargos en su contra.
- Tomar medidas para revisar la Ley General de Regulación y Control de Organismos sin Fines de Lucro junto con la sociedad civil, para modificar sus disposiciones restrictivas.
- Respetar en todo momento el Estado de derecho y garantizar la independencia del poder judicial y de las instituciones del Estado.
- Respetar los derechos de los miembros de la oposición política y sus partidarios y crear un entorno propicio para la participación política.
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Priorités de plaidoyer à la 43ème session du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies
Le Conseil des droits de l'homme se réunira pendant quatre semaines, du 24 février au 20 mars, et un certain nombre de résolutions critiques sur les droits de l'homme seront débattues et présentées aux 47 membres du Conseil. CIVICUS conduira et présentera des témoignages sur une variété de questions thématiques et de pays. Vous trouverez un aperçu complet ci-dessous ou vous pouvez directement consulter notre programme d'événements.
Situations spécifiques à certains pays
Nicaragua (Notation de l’espace civique : Réprimé)
Nos membres sur le terrain ont documenté de graves violations des droits humains, notamment des attaques contre les libertés fondamentales et contre les défenseurs des droits humains et les journalistes. Un rapport publié l'année dernière par le HCDH, mandaté par une résolution adoptée en 2019, a reflété cette situation et a recommandé un renforcement de la surveillance et de la communication de l'information par les Nations Unies. Étant donné le manque de volonté politique dans le pays pour coopérer avec les mécanismes régionaux et internationaux, et la situation préoccupante sur le terrain, CIVICUS appelle les États à soutenir une résolution sur le Nicaragua qui demande au moins un tel renforcement des activités de suivi.
Sri Lanka (Notation de l’espace civique : Réprimé)
C'est un moment critique pour le Sri Lanka, qui craint que la nouvelle administration, arrivée au pouvoir l'année dernière, ne revienne sur ses engagements en matière de droits humains et de responsabilités, mandatés par le Conseil. La résolution adoptée lors de la 30ème session du Conseil des droits de l'homme reste le seul processus en place qui pourrait garantir la justice pour les victimes de violations des droits humains. L'espace civique se referme à un rythme alarmant - depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir de la nouvelle administration, les membres de la société civile sur le terrain ont été menacés et intimidés, leurs dossiers ont été détruits, et des défenseurs des droits humains et des journalistes ont été attaqués. CIVICUS appelle les États à encourager la coopération entre le gouvernement du Sri Lanka et les mécanismes internationaux des droits de l'homme, et les membres du Conseil à réaffirmer leur engagement envers la résolution 40/1, qui met en place des engagements assortis de délais pour mettre en œuvre les mécanismes de responsabilisation de la résolution 30/1.
Iran (Notation de l'espace public :Fermé)
En 2019, l'Iran s'est livré à une série de protestations contre le manque de libertés politiques et démocratiques et la détérioration de la situation économique. Les manifestants ont été confrontés à une violente répression par des arrestations massives et une force meurtrière. Les développements géopolitiques actuels ont renforcé le régime et exacerbé l'insécurité interne. Cette session du Conseil des droits de l'homme discutera du renouvellement du mandat du rapporteur spécial sur l'Iran. CIVICUS soutient le renouvellement du mandat du Rapporteur spécial et encourage les États à faire part de leurs préoccupations quant à l'utilisation de la force meurtrière dans les manifestations.
Inde (Notation de l’espace civique : Réprimé)
Le dernier rapport de CIVICUS a dégradé la notation de l'Inde en matière d'espace civique. Une loi sur la citoyenneté controversée et discriminatoire a donné lieu à des manifestations de masse dans tout le pays, qui ont fait l'objet de violentes répressions, faisant de nombreux blessés et au moins 25 morts. Le Jammu-et-Cachemire reste soumis à une répression sévère, notamment par la fermeture prolongée d'Internet qui en est à son sixième mois. Internet a été partiellement rétabli en janvier, mais des restrictions subsistent, ce qui fait de cette fermeture la plus longue jamais enregistrée dans une démocratie. Les fermetures d'Internet sont également utilisées dans tout le pays afin d'entraver la liberté de réunion pacifique. CIVICUS encourage les États à faire part de leurs préoccupations concernant l'Inde et à demander une enquête sur la répression violente des manifestations pacifiques, ainsi qu'à abroger les dispositions discriminatoires de la loi sur la citoyenneté.
Mandats thématiques
Le Rapporteur spécial sur les défenseurs des droits de l'homme
Le mandat du Rapporteur spécial sur les défenseurs des droits de l'homme sera renouvelé lors de cette session. Il s'agit d'un mandat crucial qui a un impact sur tous les domaines d'intervention de CIVICUS, et nous encourageons les États à co-parrainer la résolution à un stade précoce. Le Rapporteur spécial présentera son rapport annuel sur les défenseurs des droits de l'homme dans les situations de conflit et d'après-conflit, et rendra compte de ses visites en Colombie et en Mongolie. CIVICUS encourage les États à affirmer leur co-parrainage de la résolution dès le début de la session.
Liberté d'expression
Le mandat du Rapporteur spécial sur la liberté d'expression doit être renouvelé lors de cette session, à un moment où les coupures d'Internet sont de plus en plus utilisées comme une tactique pour limiter la liberté d'expression, l'accès à l'information et la liberté de réunion pacifique. Nous encourageons les États à co-parrainer le renouvellement de cet important mandat à un stade précoce.
Liberté de religion et de croyance (FoRB)
Le Rapporteur spécial sur la liberté de religion et de croyance présentera son rapport annuel, qui cette année se concentre sur l'intersection de la religion et de la croyance, du genre et des droits OSIG, et rendra compte des visites de pays au Sri Lanka et aux Pays-Bas. CIVICUS s'intéressera au Sri Lanka et à l'Inde, qui ont tous deux connu des évolutions en matière de liberté de culte.
Prévention
Le président-rapporteur de deux séminaires intersessionnels sur la contribution que le Conseil peut apporter à la prévention des violations des droits de l'homme présentera le rapport de ces séminaires.
CIVICUS soulignera le lien entre l'espace civique et la prévention - le fait que les fermetures dans l'espace civique sont souvent des précurseurs de crises plus larges des droits humains, et qu'en intervenant au niveau de l'espace civique, le Conseil a un rôle à jouer pour assurer la prévention de ces violations des droits humains.
CIVICUS et les événements des membres lors de la 43ème session du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies (les événements seront retransmis en direct sur lapage Facebook de CIVICUS):
5 mars (13:00 UTC+1, Salle VII),CIVICUS co-parraine un événement mené par ICNL et les partenaires du consortium Civic Space Initiative sur la lutte contre le financement du terrorisme tout en préservant l'espace civique.
Le 12 mars (12h30 UTC+1, Salle XXI), CIVICUS co-parraine un événement parallèle sur l'utilisation de la force meurtrière dans les manifestations en Iran et en Irak, et les réponses de la communauté internationale.
Membres actuels du Conseil :
Afghanistan; Afrique du Sud; Angola; Arabie Saoudite; Argentine; Australie; Autriche; Bahamas; Bahreïn; Bangladesh; Brésil; Bulgarie; Burkina Faso; Cameroun; Chili; Chine; Croatie; Cuba; Danemark; Égypte; Érythrée; Espagne; Fidji; Hongrie; Inde; Irak; Islande; Italie; Japon; Mexique; Népal; Nigeria; Pakistan; Pérou; Philippines; Qatar; République démocratique du Congo; République tchèque; Royaume-Uni et Irlande du Nord; Rwanda; Sénégal; Slovaquie; Somalie; Togo; Tunisie; Ukraine; Uruguay.
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Resolución sobre Nicaragua adoptada en el Consejo de Derechos Humanos
Resolución sobre Nicaragua adoptada en el Consejo de Derechos Humanos
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Response to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights update
38th Session of the Human Rights Council
Update of the UN High Commissioner for Human RightsCIVICUS welcomes the High Commissioner’s final update and thanks him for his continued support for human rights defenders and for speaking the truth to power in this August room for the last four years. You have been the voice of the silenced and helped to ensure that the grievances of victims of human rights violations are echoed in this chamber. For that we thank you.
CIVICUS shares the High Commissioner’s concerns about civic space restrictions in Bangladesh, in particular threats and attacks against journalists from government-affiliated groups, security forces and religious extremists and the failure to bring perpetrators to justice.
The government has used the Information and Communications Technology Act to punish critics and a proposed Digital Security Bill could be used to criminalize online expression and promote self-censorship. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly continues to be restricted including of activists protesting the recent extrajudicial killings.
We are equally worried about the recent violent attacks on civil society and HRDs in Nicaragua.On 30 April, 323 national, regional and international organisations and networks, in a joint statement condemned the violent repression of the demonstrations held in Nicaragua against the social security reforms and demanded respect for the right to peaceful protest.
Since then the repression and use of excessive and indiscriminate force have continued and resulted in a at least 170 deaths. The government should immediately put an end to all violent acts, engage in a genuine dialogue with civil society and accept requests to conduct an impartial investigation into the killings.
We urge all states underscored in the High Commissioner’s report to take immediate measures to address persistent and widespread violations of the rights essential to civic space, including by allowing access to relevant UN Special Procedure mandate holders.
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Serious concerns over ongoing violations of human rights in Nicaragua and lack of accountability for perpetrators
His Excellency António Guterres
Secretary-General United Nations
405 East 42nd Street New York, NY,
10017 USA 30
Dear Secretary-General,
We, the undersigned civil society groups working across different regions, write to bring to your attention the ongoing erosion of the rule of law and systemic violations of human rights in Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega and his Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, (FSLN) party are executing a sustained campaign that targets civil society organisations, human rights defenders and the political opposition and are silencing any form of alternative views.
Independent institutions including the judiciary and other public bodies are controlled by the government, making it impossible for President Ortega and his administration to be held accountable for any human rights violations they perpetuate. The government has repeatedly ignored regional and international recommendations to stop these human rights violations and if nothing is done urgently, there will be no space left for civil society and independent voices to operate. We are very concerned about the following;
Unprecedented deregistration of civil society organisations and restrictions on free associations
We are concerned that over the last four years, the Nicaraguan authorities have systematically targeted civil society organisations and outlawed over 400 NGOs accusing them of undermining the regime, acting as “foreign agents,” or failing to provide financial statements. The number and types of organisations targeted is unprecedented including organisations that provide much needed assistance to improve the health of children, those that work on development projects for rural communities, excluded and marginalised groups, and aid organisations. For example, the Matagalpan Women’s Collective, whose legal status was cancelled in 2021, provided much needed care to women and children and to libraries and community homes for more than three decades. Others include the Nicaraguan Coordinating Federation of NGOs Working with Children and Adolescents which brought together organisations working to promote the rights of children and adolescents for over three decades.
Multiple human rights organisations, environmental groups, professional associations, cultural and educational institutions and religious organisations have also been impacted. The targeting of these organisations have been preceded and backed by a series of decrees sponsored by the FSLN. For example, in May 2022, the National Assembly approved four legislative decrees that led to the cancellation of the legal status of 94 civil society organisations and Foundations. The authorities have followed some of these actions by appropriating the assets of some organisations including the Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights.
To further restrict the right to freedom of association, the authorities promulgated the General Law for the Regulation and Control of Non-Profit Organisations on 6 May 2022. The law imposes additionalrestrictions for the registration of organisations and provides the government with the discretion to demand information about the activities, funding and beneficiaries of organisations. The Nicaraguan authorities are empowered to first authorise activities of organisations before they are implemented and organisations are prohibited from participating in political activities - which is broadly defined.
Criminalisation of independent media outlets and targeting of journalists
We are concerned about the ongoing censorship of independent media outlets and the arrests and intimidation of journalists. Since 2018, more than 20 media outlets have been closed down and at least 120 journalists have fled Nicaragua to avoid reprisals from the state. On 10 June 2022, journalist Juan Lorenzo Holmann of the La Prensa newspaper was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of “money laundering.” He was arrested in August 2021. On 16 February, journalist Miguel Mendoza was sentenced to nine years in prison and banned from holding political office after he was found guilty of “conspiring to undermine national integrity” and “disseminating false news.”
Judicial persecution, intimidation and detention of human rights defenders and members of political parties
The FSLN regime continues a campaign of repression, persecution and detention of human rights defenders, activists members of the political opposition and those who are critical of the government. Dozens of human rights defenders and the political opposition were arrested in the period leading to the elections and charged with security-related offences under the Penal Code and the Sovereign Law. In mostcases the trials of those arrested are characterised by irregularities and many are not tried in court but at the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ) of the prison also known as the Chipote.
Most of the trials are rushed and sentences are handed to those detained without due process. Those convicted include activist Yader Parajon who demanded justice for victims of government repression and was found guilty of “conspiracy to undermine national integrity” on 2 February 2022. Ana Margarita Vijil, a feminist activist and former President of the opposition group Unamis, was convicted on 2 February 2022. The persecution and detention of activists continue despite the fact that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed concerns over the deplorable and inhumane detention conditions, including those for women. Because of these restrictions, Nicaragua is rated Closed by the CIVICUS Monitor.
We request that you urge the government of Nicaragua to;
- Reverse all restrictive policies and laws used to outlaw civil society organisations and create an enabling environment for them to operate without fear of reprisals.
- Lift all restrictions and civil society organisations imposed by the government so they can continue carrying out their activities.
- Release all human rights defenders, members of the political opposition, activists and other arrested and detained and drop all charges against them.
- Take steps to review the General Law for the Regulation and control of Non-Profit Organisations together with civil society with a view to amending its restrictive provisions.
- Respect the rule of law at all times and guarantee the independence of the judiciary and state institutions
- Respect the rights of members of the political opposition and their supporters and create an enabling environment for political participation
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Six countries added to watchlist of countries where civic freedoms are under serious threat
New #civicspace watchlist - Six countries to keep an eye on: https://t.co/E5ih0npWYM pic.twitter.com/gWwAzUCHrz
— CIVICUS (@CIVICUSalliance) August 20, 2018- Bangladesh, Maldives, Cameroon, DRC, Guatemala, Nicaragua join global watchlist
- Escalating rights violations include killings, attacks on protesters, media, opposition
- Neighbours, international community must pressure governments to end repression
Six countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa have been added to a watchlist of countries which have seen an escalation in serious threats to fundamental freedoms in recent weeks and months.
The new watchlist released by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online platform that tracks threats to civil society across the globe, identifies growing concerns in Bangladesh, Maldives, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Activists and civil society organisations in these countries are currently experiencing a severe infringement of civic freedoms, as protected by international law.
Violations include brutal attacks by police on peaceful protests in Nicaragua and Bangladesh; the murder of human rights defenders in Guatemala; the killing of protesters and a brutal state campaign against activists and the political opposition in the DRC; and the prosecution of human rights defenders and journalists on fabricated charges in Cameroon, amidst an escalating civil conflict.
“It is deeply concerning to see escalated threats to basic rights in these countries,” said Cathal Gilbert, CIVICUS Civic Space Research Lead.
“It is crucial that these six governments wake up to their failure to respect international law and take swift action to respect their citizens’ most basic freedoms in a democratic society,” Gilbert said.
“We also call upon neighbouring states and international bodies to do put pressure on these countries to end the repression.”
Over the past year, authorities in Bangladesh have used repressive laws to target and harass journalists and human rights defenders, restrict freedom of assembly and carry out the enforced disappearances of opposition supporters. The human rights situation has deteriorated further ahead of national elections scheduled for late 2018. Members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League (BAL), have attacked student activists, academics and journalists with impunity.
In Nicaragua, at least 300 people have been killed since protests began in April 2018, with hundreds more kidnapped or missing. The demonstrations were initially sparked by regressive changes to the social security system but grew to include calls for President Daniel Ortega to resign in the wake of his brutal repression of peaceful protests. While large-scale marches have subsided in recent days, some continue amid a tense political situation as the Ortega government continues to silence critics despite agreements struck with international bodies, and an undertaking to allow an IACHR investigation into the violence. Attacks on protestors are perpetrated both by state forces and armed groups aligned with the government.
This year, between January and July alone, at least 18 human rights defenders (HRDs) were killed in Guatemala. There were also two assassination attempts and 135 other attacks, with 32 of those aimed at women HRDs. In early August, United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued a statement raising the alarm at the spike in killings in 2018. Reports from Guatemala indicate that the space for civil society has worsened due to land disputes and actions by corporate interests, the source of targeted violence against specific groups of activists.
Despite the announcement that Congolese president Joseph Kabila will not run for a third term, tensions are still high in the DRC, ahead of scheduled elections in December. In recent months, protestors, youth movements, human rights defenders, journalists and the political opposition have all faced widespread state repression, including arrests. In June this year, CSOs and UN Special Rapporteurs expressed serious concerns about a planned new law that would give authorities power to dissolve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) over public order or national security concerns.
In Maldives, a widespread crackdown on dissent began in February 2018 when a court ordered the release of opposition leaders. This decision led to the arbitrary arrest of judges, scores of opposition politicians and activists as well as the use of unnecessary force by police to disperse peaceful demonstrations. There are also documented cases of people being ill-treated in detention. With elections due on 23rd September 2018, civic space is likely to become increasingly contested. Already in May 2018, the Electoral Commission moved to bar four opposition leaders from running in the upcoming presidential elections.
In Cameroon, an escalating conflict in the country’s Anglophone regions between armed separatists and the government has sparked a mounting humanitarian crisis. It began as protests in 2016, resulting in state repression of protests and the arrest and prosecution of protest leaders. The conflict intensified in recent months with killings and human rights violations committed by both sides. At least 100 civilians, 43 security officers and an unknown number of armed separatists have reportedly been killed, according to an International Crisis Group report. NGOs and human rights defenders have also been targeted.
In the coming weeks, the CIVICUS Monitor will closely track developments in each of these countries as part of efforts to ensure greater pressure is brought to bear on governments. CIVICUS calls upon these governments to do everything in their power to immediately end the ongoing crackdowns and ensure that perpetrators are held to account.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact:
Cathal Gilbert
Grant Clark
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Statement: Nicaragua not implementing human rights recommendations
42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Joint statement on Nicaragua's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human RightsRed Local and CIVICUS welcome the government of Nicaragua's engagement with the UPR process.
However, our joint UPR submission documents that since its previous review Nicaragua has not implemented any of the 26 recommendations it received relating to civic space, 17 of which concern freedom of expression and access to information. We also regret that during the current cycle, recommendations regarding the provision of access to and cooperation with regional and international human rights mechanisms, the investigation of human rights abuses perpetrated against demonstrators, and the safety and freedom of jailed journalists and HRDs were not accepted by the government.
As detailed in our submission, Nicaraguan legislation still treats slander and insult as criminal offences, and the freedom of the press continues to be limited by the manipulated allocation of official advertising, denial of access to cover government activities, tight control of the flow of information from the top of the state apparatus, and media concentration in the hands of the presidential family and their allies. Acts of explicit censorship have also been recorded.
As also documented in our submission, legislation regulating the establishment, operations and dissolution of CSOs is applied arbitrarily, with the aim of hindering and intimidating the staff of independent CSOs, which have also been affected by legal or de facto restrictions on receiving external funding and sustaining international collaboration. Land rights defenders, women’s and LGBTI rights activists, journalists and bloggers are also routinely stigmatised, harassed, criminalised, arbitrarily arrested and physically attacked.
The exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly is subjected to de facto and legal barriers, from authorisation requirements to hold demonstrations and a Sovereign Security Law that broadly defines security threats to criminalise common tactics of protest movements, to the illegal use of excessive and deadly force against demonstrators, which between April and August 2018 resulted in at least 300 people killed.
We call on the Government of Nicaragua to take proactive measures to address these concerns and implement recommendations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, an enabling environment for civil society.
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The Council must address arbitrary detention of human rights defenders
Statement at the 48th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Delivered by Lisa Majumdar
Thank you, Madame President.
No one should be arbitrarily detained simply for peacefully protecting equality, freedom and justice for all. But worldwide, people are in prison for standing up for their rights and for the rights of their communities.
Teresita Naul is a human rights defender who dedicated her life to protecting the poorest and the most marginalised. She is detained in the Philippines under spurious charges. Teresita’s case is illustrative of how the Philippines has repeatedly criminalised the work of human rights defenders.
Sudha Bharadwaj is a human rights lawyer, and one of many human rights defenders charged and detained in India under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. This is a clear example of a case in which the use of vague and overly broad national security and anti-terrorism provisions has given authorities wide discretion to criminalise peaceful activities, a tactic highlighted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
María Esperanza Sánchez García is human rights defender detained in Nicaragua, where false charges have been used as a strategy to criminalise activists and defenders to deny them status of political prisoner, and arbitrary detention used as a tactic to dismantle the political opposition.
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Co-Founder of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, has spent a decade arbitrarily detained in Bahrain. This year he turned 60 in prison, separated from family and friends.
Human rights defenders are critical to the functioning of the Council’s mandate. We call on the Council to ensure that States who routinely practice arbitrary detention of human rights defenders are held to account and to ensure that human rights defenders are protected and can continue their vital work.
We thank you.
Civic space in the Philippines, India and Nicaragua is repressed and closed in Bahrain as rated by the CIVICUS Monitor
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The dismantling of Nicaragua’s civil society continues unabated
Statement at the 50th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Interactive Dialogue on High Commisioner's oral update on Nicaragua
Delivered by Nicola Paccamiccio
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to the High Commissioner for her update.
The dismantling of Nicaragua’s civil society continues unabated. In the past weeks alone, the Ortega government has used money laundering legislation and the ‘foreign agents’ legislation to cancel the registration of nearly 200 organisations working on issues from culture, to aid and development, to the environment.
A new “General Law on the Regulation and Control of Non-profit Organisations,” enacted last month, could prove a nail in the coffin for independent civil society, now effectively unable to continue their work. It makes it more difficult for Non Governmental Organisations to register, requires them to seek government approval for their activities, and imposes new reporting constraints.
Human rights defenders and opposition leaders continue to be persecuted. Yubrank Suazo, opposition leader and member of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, was detained on 18 May. Dozens of political prisoners were convicted in express trials between February and May – since then, requests for appeal have been rejected.
This is particularly concerning given ongoing ill-treatment and torture of political prisoners, including human rights defenders María Esperanza Sanchez. Women political prisoners who live with chronic or pre-existing health conditions have not received appropriate medical attention.
Nicaragua's authorities have not hesitated to use legislation, policy, judicial harassment and even acts of violence to attack Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and civil society. The establishment of the Group of Experts on Nicaragua is a significant and welcome step towards truth and accountability, and we ask the High Commissioner for concrete suggestions to how States can best support civil society on the ground who are operating in an atmosphere of fear and violence.
Civic space in Nicaragua is rated as "Closed" by the CIVICUS Monitor
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UN must address crises in Afghanistan and Cambodia, and commit to strengthening equal participation
Statement at the 48th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Delivered by Lisa Majumdar
Thank you, Madame President.
We welcome that the High Commissioner raised the appalling situation for environmental human rights defenders and we call on the Council to address violations against all human rights defenders across the globe. Participation of civil society without fear of reprisal is vital to working collaboratively towards solutions to all human rights concerns.
We further call on the Council this Session to strengthen equal participation by addressing repression of civic space and the rollback of democratic freedoms in response to the COVID pandemic. This includes particularly violations of access to information and freedoms of expression and assembly through internet shutdowns, and in the context of elections.
We welcome the High Commissioner’s update on Afghanistan and reiterate a call for the Council to create a gender-sensitive, independent investigative mechanism. The courage of those calling for justice on the ground, at grave personal risk, cannot be overstated and it is vital that their efforts be supported by the international community.
In Nicaragua, we call for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained political opposition leaders, human rights defenders and journalists, and for overdue electoral reforms. We welcome the High Commissioner’s update on Sri Lanka; ongoing shrinking civic space in the country undermines claims of reconciliation and accountability efforts.
On Cambodia, in the midst of a dramatically worsening human rights situation including persisting restrictions on civic space and the repression of dissent, and ahead of elections scheduled for 2022 and 2023, it is imperative that the Council this session takes action to adequately address violations through mandating monitoring and reporting by the High Commissioner.
We thank you.
Civic space in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Nicaragua is rated as repressed by the CIVICUS Monitor.
