UN Human Rights Report on Nicaragua is Fatally Flawed and Should be Withdrawn

SIGN-ON LETTER SENT TO UNHRC IN MARCH 2023

To the United Nations Human Rights Council:

The report of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN), released by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on March 2, 2023, should never have been published:

• It is extremely biased, based on material from only one side in what was a serious and prolonged conflict, despite the requirement to examine “all alleged human rights violations and abuses committed in Nicaragua since April 2018.”

• The claim that the group was unable to get material from the Nicaraguan government is false because the government had already submitted very substantial documentation to both the UN and the OAS, which was never taken into account by either body.

• It completely fails to address the enormous damage done to ordinary people, businesses, and public services by violent protesters in 2018, perpetuating a gross injustice against the human rights of thousands of Nicaraguans.

• It makes many allegations that are demonstrably wrong and do not withstand a simple checking of the facts. 

• It was presented in a sensational and unprofessional manner, making unfounded and damaging slurs against the Nicaraguan people and their government.

This report is an attempt to use a multilateral human rights body to lend legitimacy to a regime change campaign and justify sanctions. It is an abuse of the United Nations system.

Instead of repeating these unsubstantiated claims against a country clearly being targeted for regime change by the United States, the UNHRC should be condemning the economic coercive measures the latter country has imposed on one-third of humanity, which violate the UN Charter, kill thousands, and constitute crimes against humanity.

If the UNHRC wants to help the people of sanctioned countries, it must advocate the immediate lifting of coercive measures, which would create a climate more favorable to the enjoyment of civil and political rights. If the UNHRC wants to facilitate peace and reconciliation in Nicaragua, it must examine the testimony of ordinary Nicaraguans and the findings of the Nicaraguan Commission for Truth, Justice and Peace here.  Other essential material that needs to be considered is found here, and here, and here. The spurious, unprofessional report published by the GHREN on March 2, 2023, must be withdrawn.