Ávarp í umræðu um mannréttindaástand í Níkaragva

Sandra Lyngdorf, sérfræðingur, flutti í dag ávarp fyrir hönd Íslands í sérstakri umræðu um mannréttindaástand í Níkaragva sem fram fór í mannréttindaráði Sameinuðu þjóðanna.

Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the
High Commissioner’s report on Nicaragua

Statement by Iceland

10 September 2019

Thank you, Mr. President.

We thank the High Commissioner for her report.

While we welcome the release of 492 people who had been detained in the context of the 2018 protests, we regret the continuing oppression of dissent.

Reports of attacks, violence, arbitrary detention, intimidation, threats, harassment and smear campaigns by authorities and/or pro-Government elements against media workers, including staff of Radio Dario, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society members, LGBTI persons, and others, are deeply disturbing.

The work of such individuals is of paramount importance in strengthening civic space and we urge Nicaragua to take immediate measures to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish all such acts.

Improving domestic human rights resilience is an important first step towards preventing human rights violations and we urge Nicaragua to promptly resume cooperation with OHCHR and regional human rights mechanisms, and to grant them access to the country.

In conclusion, we would like to ask the High Commissioner if there is any update on the legal motions filed before the Supreme Court by two civil society organizations to challenge the constitutionality of the new Amnesty Law (Law 996)?

I thank you.