IACHR

Press Release

Press release about Nicaragua

December 19, 2018

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Washington, D.C. / Managua - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reports that the State of Nicaragua communicated today its decision to temporarily suspend the presence of the Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI) in the country and visits by the IACHR to Nicaragua from this date forward. The State also communicated the expiration of the term, mandate and mission of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI).

The MESENI of the IACHR was installed in Managua on June 24, 2018 in order to monitor the situation of human rights in Nicaragua on the ground, follow up on the recommendations issued by the IACHR in its reports and in the precautionary measures granted, and support the strengthening of the capacities of civil society actors. The IACHR regrets the decision of the State of Nicaragua and announces that MESENI will continue to operate from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. In this sense, MESENI will remain in permanent contact with civil society organizations, social movements, State actors and victims of human rights violations.

The GIEI has the objective of assisting and supporting the investigations into the violent events in the country that occurred between April 18 and May 30, 2018 in the context of the social protests which took place, based on the agreement signed between the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, the IACHR and the Government of Nicaragua. The GIEI will make its report public in the coming days.

The IACHR reiterates that the situation in Nicaragua will continue to be a priority, reaffirms its commitment to the victims of human rights violations and will continue to monitor compliance by the Nicaraguan State with its voluntary contracted international human rights obligations contracted voluntarily.

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. 274/18