Human Rights
United Nations: Nicaragua commits crimes against humanity for political reasons
The investigation, which began working a year ago, specifically names President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo as some of the main perpetrators of the violations
March 4, 2023 12:03pm
Updated: March 4, 2023 12:03pm
A United Nations team of human rights experts said Thursday that Nicaragua’s government has committed serious and systematic crimes against humanity.
The three-person team investigating human rights violations in the country said that the Nicaraguan regime has committed more than 100 cases of executions, hundreds of cases of torture and arbitrary detention, and thousands of cases of political persecution against the government’s critics.
“These violations and abuses are being perpetrated in a widespread and systematic manner for political reasons, constituting the crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment, torture, including sexual violence, deportation and persecution on political grounds.”
The investigation, which began working a year ago, specifically names President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo—Ortega’s wife—as some of the main perpetrators of the violations that “put into practice these crimes” that continue to this day.
“The objective (of the government) is to eliminate by different means any opposing or dissenting voices in the country,” said Jan Simon, Chair of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, adding that the government was “weaponizing the functions of the state against the population.”
“This has resulted in the Nicaraguan population living in fear,” he said.
The group of experts has sent over 12 letters to Ortega’s government condemning the human rights violations, as well as a final report of its investigation, but did not receive a response.
The group called for international sanctions against the government and those involved as a measure to stop the crimes against humanity in the Central American nation.
“We are very concerned with the present situation,” he said.
“It is our sincere hope that this report can contribute to preventing the further spiraling of systemic violations and abuses.”
Nicaragua’s diplomatic mission in Geneva did not comment on the report’s findings.
