Item 2 - Interactive dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua. JST Canada (3.03.2023)

HRC52  Joint statement

Item 2 - Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on Nicaragua

March 3, 2023 

Mr. President,

On behalf of 53 countries, Canada thanks the High Commissioner for his update, which sheds light on concerning developments in Nicaragua and evidences the importance of renewing the OHCHR’s monitoring mandate.

Whilst we welcome the recent release of 222 political prisoners, and thank the facilitating States, we condemn the Government of Nicaragua’s decision to strip these individuals and 94 other Nicaraguans of their Nicaraguan citizenship and political rights. Nationality is a right, which cannot be revoked without appropriate process.

We are troubled by the testimonies of mistreatment of released political prisoners. We urge the authorities to cease arbitrary detention and release all remaining political prisoners, including leaders of the Catholic Church.

We are further alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants in Nicaragua, who face increasing repression, persecution and discrimination.

We reiterate our concern over Nicaragua’s refusal to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms. We call on the authorities to grant them access in order to address and investigate allegations of human rights violations and torture, and to renew cooperation with the OHCHR.

The trend to bar and expel foreign representatives from the country only isolates Nicaragua. We call on Nicaragua to open a dialogue in good faith with the international community.

Mr. High Commissioner, what more can this Council do to bring accountability for egregious human rights violations in Nicaragua?

 

Co-sponsors:

 

  1. Albania
  2. Andorra
  3. Australia
  4. Austria
  5. Belgium
  6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  7. Bulgaria
  8. Canada
  9. Chile
  10. Colombia
  11. Costa Rica
  12. Croatia
  13. Cyprus
  14. Czech Republic
  15. Denmark
  16. Ecuador
  17. Estonia
  18. Finland
  19. France
  20. Georgia
  21. Germany
  22. Greece
  23. Iceland
  24. Ireland
  25. Italy
  26. Japan
  27. Latvia
  28. Liechtenstein
  29. Lithuania
  30. Luxembourg
  31. Malta
  32. Marshall Islands
  33. Monaco
  34. Montenegro
  35. Morocco
  36. Netherlands
  37. New Zealand
  38. North Macedonia
  39. Norway
  40. Peru
  41. Poland
  42. Portugal
  43. Paraguay
  44. Republic of Korea
  45. Romania
  46. Slovakia
  47. Slovenia
  48. Spain
  49. Sweden
  50. Switzerland
  51. Ukraine
  52. United Kingdom
  53. United States