Nicaragua: PEN International joins other organisations in urging Nicaragua to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council
03 April 2025: PEN International, alongside the undersigned national and international organisations, as well as regional networks, condemn the Nicaraguan State's lack of cooperation in completing the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
With 279 recommendations made to the government during its review in November 2024, the adoption of the final UPR report was scheduled for 26 March 2025, during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council. However, the Nicaraguan State did not submit its report nor attend the session, resulting in the suspension and postponement of the procedure to the 60th session. This follows Nicaragua's withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025.
The UPR is a unique mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council aimed at promoting human rights protection. It involves evaluating each member state, which receives recommendations from other member states, fostering collaboration to uphold fundamental human rights.
The adoption and implementation of these recommendations are critical for recovering civic space and restoring fundamental human rights guarantees in Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan State’s absence has significant ramifications for the protection and guarantee of human rights. The restriction of international observation fosters impunity and enables ongoing human rights violations, particularly in conflict situations and human rights crises, such as those faced by Nicaragua since 2018.
For this reason, we urge the State of Nicaragua to resume its collaboration with the UPR and the broader Human Rights Council to complete the evaluation process.
We also urge the Human Rights Council to take the necessary measures in response to the Nicaraguan State’s failure to comply with this special procedure, so the evaluation process can resume. This failure sets a concerning precedent for this protection mechanism. We call on UN member states to remain vigilant in monitoring the human rights situation in Nicaragua, particularly regarding the right to freedom of expression, and to continue supporting civil society.
The role of international organizations overseeing the protection and enforcement of human rights, such as the Human Rights Council, and the processes they implement, like the Universal Periodic Review, is crucial in ensuring the human rights of Nicaraguans.
Signatories
ARTICLE 19
Artists At Risk Connection
Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ
Fundación por la Libertad de Expresión y Democracia- FLED
Inter American Press Association-IAPA
IFEX-ALC
Periodistas y Comunicadores Independientes de Nicaragua- PCIN
PEN International
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters- AMARC ALC
Note to Editors:
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