IACHR

Press Release

IACHR Regrets the Conclusion of the Invitation to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nicaragua

August 31, 2018

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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) regrets the decision of the State of Nicaragua to terminate the invitation made to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and its visit to the country.

One of the recommendations of the IACHR to the State of Nicaragua in its report "Gross Human Rights Violations in the Context of Social Protests in Nicaragua" refers to "stay open to international scrutiny and, in that regard, facilitate the visit of all those mechanisms for the protection of human rights of the inter-American system and the United Nations system, and of other relevant actors in the international community”. The Commission has repeatedly valued the openness of the Nicaraguan government through invitations to international mechanisms for the protection of human rights to visit its country. In particular, the IACHR duly welcomed the invitation sent to the OHCHR.

On this occasion, the Commission expresses its appreciation to the Office of the High Commissioner for the relevant work carried out during its stay in the country in support of victims and their families, civil society and full availability to cooperate with the State. The Commission also highlights the observations, conclusions and recommendations made in the report "Human rights violations and abuses in the context of protests in Nicaragua" that the OHCHR issued on August 29.

The Commission will continue working in an articulated manner with the OHCHR in the monitoring and promotion of human rights, and renew its commitment to continue its work of following up its recommendations to the State of Nicaragua and monitoring the human rights situation in that country in accordance with its mandate.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 195/18