Statement on report by Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua
Rita French, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, delivers a statement on behalf of the UK on the report from the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua.
Thank you, Mr President.
We thank the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua for the presentation of their report.
The reports of grave and systematic human rights violations, in particular the use of sexual and gender-based violence are deeply disturbing. The UK supports the recommendations of the report and continues to call on the Nicaraguan government to cooperate fully with the Group.
The report raises concerns about the participation of the President, Vice President and officials, as well as non-State actors, in exceptionally serious and systematic human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary deprivation of nationality, as well as violations of numerous fundamental freedoms.
While we welcome the recent release of political prisoners from Nicaraguan jails, the decision by the authorities to expel them from Nicaragua and to strip them of their nationality and their assets is a wholly unacceptable penalisation of exercising their rights.
We would welcome the views of the experts on the effect of actions taken to date by the international community in particular to discourage the Nicaraguan Government from committing further violations, abuses, and crimes, and crucially to hold those responsible to account.
Thank you.