U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review for Nicaragua
33rd Session,
Geneva, May 15, 2019
As Delivered by Jason Mack
The United States is extremely concerned by the failure of Nicaraguan authorities to respect the human rights of Nicaragua’s people.
We recommend that Nicaragua:
- Hold accountable all government officials, agents, or parapolice forces who are responsible for human rights violations or abuses, —including unlawful or arbitrary killings, forced disappearances, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, physical abuse, and rape— by initiating investigations immediately.
- Release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, and take immediate steps to end arbitrary arrest and detention.
- End immediately all undue interference with rights to freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Allow all independent media, religious institutions, and civil society organizations to operate without undue coercion, restrictions, legal threat, or threat to personal safety.
We remain deeply concerned about the government’s continued human rights violations and abuses, and violent response to peaceful protests that began in April 2018. We note with alarm the human rights situation in Nicaragua has deteriorated markedly since its last UPR, particularly in 2018 and 2019.