Intersessional session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Oral Update on Nicaragua

Mr Vice-President,

We thank the Deputy High Commissioner for her update.

New Zealand joins others in expressing alarm at the continued deterioration of human rights and restrictions on democratic expression in Nicaragua. 

We remain deeply concerned by the continued erosion of human rights in Nicaragua, including the increase in political prisoners, allegations of torture, arbitrary deprivation of nationality and the repression of civil society groups. This has taken place under laws that unduly restrict rights to political participation and freedom of expression.

New Zealand is also concerned about the recent mass dismissal of staff from Nicaragua’s judiciary and the use of the criminal justice system as a tool of repression against people considered dissidents or opponents.

We remain concerned by Nicaragua’s continued failure to respect its international human rights obligations, in particular, its failure to engage with international bodies mandated to monitor human rights.

We urge Nicaragua to engage with the recommendations made by the former High Commissioner in her 2022 report.

Deputy High Commissioner, we would welcome your views on how democratic opposition and human rights defenders can be protected from further persecution in Nicaragua.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President.