The United States Joined the Following Joint Statement at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council
Joint Statement by a Group of Countries on the Situation in Nicaragua
Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on Nicaragua
As Delivered by Mr. Jeffrey Marder, Executive Director, Human Rights and Indigenous Affairs Policy, Global Affairs Canada
Mr. President,
On behalf of TBC, 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 detentions and release all 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?
Cosponsors:
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. Hungary
24. Iceland
25. Ireland
26. Italy
27. Japan
28. Latvia
29. Liechtenstein
30. Lithuania
31. Luxembourg
32. Malta
33. Marshall Islands
34. Monaco
35. Montenegro
36. Morocco
37. Netherlands
38. New Zealand
39. North Macedonia
40. Norway
41. Peru
42. Poland
43. Portugal
44. Paraguay
45. Republic of Korea
46. Romania
47. Slovakia
48. Slovenia
49. Spain
50. Sweden
51. Switzerland
52. Ukraine
53. United Kingdom
54. United States of America