UN Human Rights Council- 55th regular session of the Human Rights Council
Interactive dialogue on the report of the Group of Experts on Human Rights on Nicaragua
Delivered by Amaru Ruiz Aleman
Thank you, Mr. President.
CIVICUS and the Fundación del Río, congratulate the work of the Group of Experts in the elaboration of the report, we consider these research efforts to be extremely valuable for the international community to continue to be updated on the various human rights violations that exist in Nicaragua.
We recognize the efforts of the Holy See for the release of 19 Nicaraguan priests and welcome their release, however, there are still 121 political prisoners, including 10 Mayangna and 2 Miskitu indigenous people. We want to highlight that the persecution of defenders in Nicaragua continues, more than 27 indigenous people have arrest warrants for their work as community forest rangers.
The situation of civic space in the country remains critical and is deteriorating further due to the concerted effort of the government to stop all forms of dissident opinion. The Ministry of Interior has been revived as an organ of control and persecution of the Nicaraguan citizenry. Since the end of 2018, the Ministry of Interior has cancelled the legal personality of more than 3,549 non-governmental organizations, 55 of these have been cancelled this year.
The situation is further worsened by the government's refusal to cooperate and engage with international human rights bodies. The report of the Expert Group continues to show how human rights violations continue to affect the Nicaraguan people.
We thank you.