Photo: UN Photo
In their third report to the Human Rights Council, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua spoke of a new phase of repression in Nicaragua gutting the constitution of basic human rights guarantees. As Nicaragua disengages from the Council and further isolates itself from the international community, the importance of continuing the work of the Experts is clear.
In their report to the Human Rights Council (HRC), the HRC-appointed Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) focused on repressive tactics that have been formalised within recent constitutional reforms, in force since February 2025. These reforms are aimed at confirming the executive’s absolute power over every State entity, and eliminating any dissent. Amongst the reforms is the removal of the explicit prohibition of torture. The GHREN made clear that crimes against humanity continue to take place. Individuals responsible for violations and crimes will be named in a follow-up ‘conference paper’, due to be issued in April.
The GHREN report details cases of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and arbitrary denial of nationality. In addition they note the transnational impact of human rights violations citing how the refusal imposed on many Nicaraguans from re-entering their country, leaving them stateless, renders them but also their relatives profoundly vulnerable.
According to the Experts, the non-profit sector has been almost completely eliminated in the country with 80% of NGOs registered in Nicaragua since 2017 having disappeared.
In essence, noted GHREN member Brody, the situation in the country boils down to surveillance and enforced silence for those that remain and statelessness and exile for those who leave or are forced to leave.
The majority of the States present spoke out denouncing the human rights situation in the country. NGOs also took the floor to provide direct testimony and analysis.
Juan-David Barberena delivered a statement for ISHR in which he spoke of the threats to defenders in the country and naming Fabiola Tercero, Brooklyn Rivera, Nancy Henríquez, Leo Cárcamo as examples of defenders who have been forcibly disappeared.
The day before the interactive dialogue, Nicaragua announced it was disengaging from the Human Rights Council. During the dialogue the GHREN and several States expressed regret about this step – noting it signaled further isolation for Nicaragua – and calling for Nicaragua to return.
Disengaging from the Council doesn’t mean an end to human rights monitoring or accountability. That effort should and will continue, in Geneva and New York, on behalf of victims of violations and in a bid to restore human rights protections.Raphael Viana David, China and Latin America Programme Manager, ISHR
In its concluding remarks to the Council, the GHREN noted that the deterioration of the human rights situation in the country means that ‘restoring democracy and the rule of law will take years and significant resources.’
The experts provided the Council and all UN Member States with five recommendations, summarised here as:
The mandates of both the OHCHR and GHREN come up for renewal this session. On behalf of the Colectivo 46/2 coalition*, ISHR calls for the mandates to be renewed for 2 years more, and for the current HRC resolution draft to reflect the above-mentioned recommendations, request the GHREN to present its findings to the UN General Assembly in New York, and include a stronger condemnation of the multi-pronged targeting of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants.
*The Colectivo 46/2 is a coalition of 19 international, regional and Nicaraguan organizations that seeks to promote and facilitate Nicaraguan civil society access to the Human Rights Council and other UN human rights mechanisms. The Colectivo 46/2 played a central role in the creation of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN), and has been accompanying the work of the GHREN and Human Rights Council resolutions on Nicaragua since 2022.
At the 58th Human Rights Council session, civil society organisations share reflections on key outcomes and highlight gaps in addressing crucial issues and situations. Full written version below.
On 4 April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a substantive resolution to enhance the protection of human rights defenders in the face of the specific challenges posed by new and emerging technologies.
The UN Human Rights Council has extended the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua for two years, doing so with a larger majority compared to the body’s 2023 renewal, and including a reporting mechanism to the UN General Assembly in New York.
