The members of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a condemnation of the human rights violations by the government of Daniel Ortega. Although the OAS implemented this condemnation of the country’s government, Nicaragua no longer belongs to the organization since 2021, after the rejection of the legitimacy of the presidential elections that allowed Ortega to be re-elected.
The resolution called “The crisis of human rights in Nicaragua,” approved last Friday, calls for Ortega to stop “all human rights violations and respect the civil, political, and religious rights of Nicaraguans.” In addition, the organization demands that the government cease the persecution of “journalists, the media, civil society organizations, and religious communities, respecting the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
The Open Urnas Observatory, an organization in charge of monitoring the presidential elections and democratic legitimacy in Nicaragua, values ??this initiative as insufficient. “The resolution approved unanimously by the 32 representatives of States present, with the exception of Nicaragua and Venezuela that did not participate in the fifty-third regular session of the OAS General Assembly, is an important message from the international community, but it continues to be insufficient,” Urnas Abiertas said in a statement.
Open Polls declares the importance of the resolution, but demands the imposition of forceful measures towards the dictatorial regime, so that these initiatives are no longer insufficient. Likewise, the members of the observatory have requested the support and attention of the international community. “It is time for the international community to take bilateral or multilateral measures in relation to investment and development projects that international financial institutions continue to finance in the country,” the institution said.
For Urnas Abiertas, “it is important that the international community continue to demand that the Nicaraguan regime stop the violations of human rights and the release of the 64 political prisoners.” Therefore, for this body, the intervention and attention of more countries around the world is necessary.
On the other hand, organizations defending human rights have expressed their continuing concern about the crisis experienced in the Central American country. Eight organizations, including the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), expressed this Monday their “deep concern at the continuation of serious human rights violations in Nicaragua.”
After announcing a joint declaration on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, these institutions detailed their “total rejection of the repressive actions used by the State of Nicaragua.” According to a report presented this Monday by the Nunca Más Nicaragua Human Rights Collective, since 2019 158 cases of torture have been documented, including 130 men and 28 women. These organizations have committed to supporting the cause and the victims of the regime.
Nicaragua has been going through a political and social crisis since April 2018, after the election of the government of Daniel Ortega and his re-election in 2021. Since 2021, Ortega was re-elected for a fifth term, his fourth consecutive term governing the Central American country.
