{"id":185161,"date":"2026-03-16T14:16:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T20:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/confidencial.digital\/sin-categoria\/un-member-states-alarmed-by-rising-repression-in-nicaragua\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:24:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:24:52","slug":"un-member-states-alarmed-by-rising-repression-in-nicaragua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/confidencial.digital\/en\/english\/un-member-states-alarmed-by-rising-repression-in-nicaragua\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Member States \u201cAlarmed\u201d by Rising Repression in Nicaragua"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than a dozen countries expressed their “alarm at the findings” of the new report of the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua (GHREN), presented to the UN Human Rights Council. The document exposes how the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo used State resources to sustain repression in Nicaragua<\/a> and extend a surveillance and intelligence network aimed at persecuting Nicaraguans in exile. <\/p>\n\n

During an interactive dialogue held in Geneva on Monday, March 16, 2026, as part of the Council\u2019s 61st session, GHREN urged the Nicaraguan regime to \u201cdismantle the architecture of repression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe have documented the functional connection between the Sandinista Party\u2019s parallel structure within the State, the diversion of public funds, its accounting cover-up, and the serious human rights violations in Nicaragua,\u201d said Jan-Michael Simon, chair of the Group of Experts, in his presentation before the UN Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n\n

Representatives of Costa Rica, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Spain condemned the human rights violations recorded in the country.<\/p>\n\n

Spain denounced the \u201cconsolidation of a system of tight control\u201d that eliminates human rights domestically and \u201cextends its architecture of harassment and threats beyond its borders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe are concerned about the Group\u2019s findings on the harassment of Nicaraguans in exile, including incidents that have taken place on our territory,\u201d said Spain\u2019s representative, Clara Cabrera.<\/p>\n\n

Costa Rica \u201cappalled\u201d by GHREN findings<\/h2>\n\n

GHREN determined that Rosario Murillo leads a \u201cvertical chain of command\u201d coordinating a broad surveillance and intelligence network designed to identify which exiled Nicaraguans should be targeted,<\/a> by establishing \u201cthreat categories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Costa Rica\u2014one of the main host countries for Nicaraguans fleeing repression\u2014said it was \u201cappalled by the transnational repression\u201d documented in the report, particularly the \u201cacts of surveillance, physical and digital harassment, and threats faced by Nicaraguans in exile, carried out by intelligence networks linked to the Nicaraguan State,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe investigation into the murder of Roberto Samcam in San Jos\u00e9 in June 2025 points to political motives, as indicated in the GHREN report (\u2026) authorities have activated certain institutional mechanisms to provide safeguards for exiled individuals,\u201d said Costa Rican delegate Roberto C\u00e9spedes. <\/p>\n\n

Viviane Ferreira, representing Brazil, said her government views with \u201cconcern the persistent deterioration of the rule of law and democratic guarantees\u201d in Nicaragua. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe report identifies ongoing patterns of serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on due process,\u201d Ferreira said, while calling on the Nicaraguan dictatorship to \u201cput an end to human rights violations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Alexandra Salazar, representing the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), noted that the regime currently holds 46 people imprisoned for political reasons, who are subjected to a \u201ctorturous environment, prolonged isolation, physical violence, and the deliberate denial of medical care.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Canada calls for an end to the persecution<\/h2>\n\n

Canada\u2019s delegation, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, called on the UN Human Rights Council to \u201cfollow up and support accountability efforts.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

\u201cReports of killings and physical attacks against exiles are deeply concerning, and those incidents must be investigated thoroughly and swiftly in accordance with national legislation. We urge the Government of Nicaragua to immediately cease the persecution,\u201d said Canadian delegate Patricia Lyn McCullagh. <\/p>\n\n

Since the beginning of its mandate, the Group has sent 21 letters requesting information from the regime, but \u201cthey have received no response.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe view with concern the findings of the report, which once again document persistent patterns of human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, restrictions on civic space, and the arbitrary deprivation of nationality,\u201d said Mar\u00eda Paz Florenzano of Chile. <\/p>\n\n

Mario Ra\u00fal Cano of Paraguay said that the \u201cconsolidation of constitutional reforms\u201d<\/a> has given the Ortega-Murillo regime \u201csupreme scope for the concentration of power, undermining democratic principles.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

“Repression, persecutions, and disappearances have become systematic practices,” denounced Cano. <\/p>\n\n

Human rights deterioration is \u201congoing\u201d <\/h2>\n\n

Other countries that backed the GHREN report and condemned the regime\u2019s authoritarianism include:<\/p>\n\n