Nicaragua

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted today during its 49th session, by 20 votes in favour, a resolution that establishes for one year a “Group of Experts on Human Rights” with a mandate to investigate and seek accountability for serious human rights violations in Nicaragua.

We condemn the judicial farce taking place in Nicaragua by which Judge Luden Martín Quiroz in the Ninth Criminal District Court of Managua has sentenced independent journalists and workers for the now-defunct Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation (FVBCH) to between 7 and 14 years in prison.

Civil society organisations have published an assessment detailing the wilful inaction of the State of Nicaragua, which has failed to address gross human rights violations as urged by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution 46/2.

On February 16, in a closed door hearing in the Ninth Criminal District Court of Managua, a judge sentenced Mendoza to nine years in prison along with a ban on holding political office during that time.

Nicaragua’s human rights record continues to worsen with trials completely lacking in due process. In a joint trial of seven government critics and opposition leaders, the charges are mostly based on the defendants’ exercise of their right to free expression.

IFEX-ALC and other rights groups condemn the Nicaraguan government’s many attempts to threaten and silence the country’s independent press, and stress that respect for the right to freedom of expression and information is crucial for the functioning of democratic societies.

We reiterate our solidarity and support for Nicaraguan media outlets and journalists, including those in exile, as they continue to carry out their work of providing information to the country’s citizens, and call on the Nicaraguan authorities to provide guarantees for press freedom.

Nicaraguan authorities should immediately drop criminal charges against journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro and stop using the country’s justice system to harass and silence the press.

In the face of escalating repression and the systematic persecution of the independent press and dissident voices, we the undersigned organizations, call on the international community to speak up in defense of press freedom and freedom of expression in Nicaragua, to condemn the ongoing violations of these rights, and to appeal for the restoration of conditions to allow free, fair and transparent elections to take place. In addition, we call on the Nicaraguan authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and to provide guarantees for press freedom.

Nicaraguan authorities must stop harassing the “La Prensa” newspaper, allow its staff to enter their offices and report freely, and unconditionally release publisher Juan Lorenzo Holmann.

Nicaraguan authorities must refrain from opening criminal investigations into the work of journalist María Lilly Delgado and any other members of the press.

We call on authorities to guarantee freedom of expression rights and We express our solidarity with Nicaraguan journalists and media workers, recognising their bravery, courage and unwavering commitment

Nicaraguan authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the harassment of journalist Wilih Narváez, ensure his safety, and hold those responsible to account.4

As Nicaragua recognizes the National Day of the Journalist today, the undersigned organizations express our solidarity with Nicaraguan journalists and call on authorities across the country to put an end to widespread harassment of journalists and ensure the media and press freedom organizations can work safely.

IFEX-ALC is deeply concerned about the Cybercrime Law passed on October 27 of this year by the National Assembly of Nicaragua. The crimes established in this law have rather abstract definitions that could be open to abusive interpretation. The law also criminalizes activities that constitute legitimate exercise of freedom of expression.

On September 11, a judge ordered the seizure of the outlet’s assets, including the channel’s main offices, vehicles belonging to the station, and a house belonging to Mariano Valle, whose family owns the broadcaster.