Comisión Permanente de Derechos Humanos

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 12.865416

Longitude: -85.207229

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Reprisal information

The case of the Comisión Permanente de Derechos Humanos (CPDH) and its staff was included in the 2021, 2020 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General160 on allegations of threats, harassment, and intimidation by police for regularly engaging with OHCHR. According to information received by OHCHR, on 20 April 2022, the CPDH was one of the 25 civil society organizations that had its legal status terminated by the Legislative Assembly for the alleged non-compliance with Law No. 147 on Non-Profit Legal Persons and Law No. 977 against Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Reportedly, the CPDH was one of the last human rights organizations that formally operated in Nicaragua documenting allegations, providing legal representation to victims of violations, and reporting to the UN and other international bodies.

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No

Follow up information provided in SG report 0

The case of the Comisión Permanente de Derechos Humanos (CPDH) and its staff has been included since 2019 in the reports of the Secretary-General133 on allegations of threats, harassment, and intimidation by police for regularly engaging with OHCHR. On 23 July 2022, special procedures mandate holders addressed the dissolution of the CPDH through the publication of Decree No. 8795 in the Official Gazette No. 73, which cancelled the legal personality of 25 civil society organisations (NIC 2/2022). As a result of this cancellation, CPDH was no longer able to receive national and international funding, including from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Mandate holders noted that most of the CPDH employees have reportedly fled the country while those remaining in the country have been officially declared “unemployed”. The organisation’s real estate and vehicles were reportedly confiscated (NIC 2/2022). According to information received by OHCHR, the CPDH and its staff relocated abroad to be able to continue their human rights work and activities.

Was this case followed up by a UN body? 0