On Thursday, Nicaragua announced its withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council after a report detailed serious human rights violations attributed to its government.
Compiled by three UN experts, the report outlined issues such as the targeting of Catholics, arbitrary imprisonment, and torture, with evidence suggesting the Nicaraguan army played a role in violent crackdowns during 2018.
The findings have raised questions about Nicaragua’s status as a democracy, as President Daniel Ortega has recently increased executive power through constitutional reforms that empower the presidency at the expense of independent institutions.
Critics, including the country’s vice president, have dismissed the report as unfounded, claiming it is politically motivated propaganda.
The experts have called for accountability from the Nicaraguan government and have prepared to present a list of officials linked to human rights abuses, offering them a chance to respond to the allegations.
As scrutiny intensifies on Ortega’s administration, the international community watches closely to see how this situation unfolds.