UN experts warn against decline of rule of law and human rights in Nicaragua News
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UN experts warn against decline of rule of law and human rights in Nicaragua

The UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua warned on Wednesday that the regime of President Daniel Ortega transformed Nicaragua into an authoritarian state. UN experts call for international action.

The UN group of experts released a new report on the situation in Nicaragua. The report details President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, carried out serious human rights violations as part of their plan to exercise absolute control. Currently, UN experts believe the Nicaraguan government delivered a final blow against the rule of law, leaving the executive branch unchecked.

The chair of the Group of Experts, Jan Simon, said, “Ortega and Murillo operate a wide intelligence machine, surveilling the population and selecting the targets for the violation of rights, acting as ‘the eyes and ears’ that allow to obtain and maintain total control over people.” Ariela Peralta, a member of the Group of Experts, stated, “This is a Government at war with its own people.” UN experts recognized reestablishing democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua will take time and resources. Despite this, they recommended strengthening the position of Nicaragua’s civil society. Moreover, the international community must seek accountability at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for violations of human rights and international obligations by the Nicaraguan government.

The report evidenced cases of arbitrary detentions and arbitrary deprivation of nationality targeting dissidents. The UN Group was
informed of 193 cases of arbitrary detentions. Moreover, the US and the Organization of American States (OAS) denounced in February 2023 that the government revoked the citizenship of around 222 political prisoners in Nicaragua as part of its plan to consolidate power. Arbitrary detentions are prohibited under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Additionally, Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness protect the right to a nationality.

The UN had already voiced concerns regarding constitutional amendments proposed by Ortega in November 2024. Here, the UN claimed the president would assume unlimited power. The Nicaraguan National Assembly ratified these reforms in February 2025 despite international disagreement.

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