Paris, June 23, 2018 - On the occasion of its meeting in Paris, the FIDH International Board strongly condemns the serious human rights violations committed in Nicaragua since April 18, 2018 by security forces against civilians and peaceful protesters. Ordering this repression, the current government lost all legitimacy, and hindered a democratic solution to the ongoing crisis.
Assassinations, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and persecution are occurring on a daily basis for over two months and have already caused 212 deaths. On the one hand, the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, appears to accept dialogue but on the other, he continues to repress the population. The growing protests are a sign of popular discontent and this requires a radical change in the system of government.
FIDH demands an immediate cessation of repressions and urges the State of Nicaragua to authorise access to international bodies and protection mechanisms to enter the country. FIDH calls on the members of the Organisation of American States to firmly condemn the serious human rights violations committed and to closely monitor progress and compliance with the agreements reached within the framework of the National Dialogue.