Nicaragua Leaves UN Human Rights Council Due to Claims of Rights Violations

A UN report that accused President Daniel Ortega’s government of grave human rights abuses prompted Nicaragua to declare on Thursday that it was leaving the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

According to Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo, the country would no longer engage in any activity pertaining to the council or its connected processes, calling the decision “sovereign and irrevocable.”

On Wednesday, the United Nations report denounced Ortega and Murillo for turning Nicaragua into an authoritarian state with demolished independent institutions. The government is accused of violating human rights, which the study categorized as crimes against humanity, and the international community is urged to take legal action against it.

Disregarding international scrutiny is nothing new for Nicaragua. Previously, Ortega’s administration has rejected findings from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations, arguing that they are a part of a larger attempt to weaken the nation’s leadership. The most recent results, according to Murillo, were “falsehoods” and “slander.”

The accusations in the paper are a continuation of worries that have existed since the anti-government demonstrations in Peru in 2018. Disputable social security reforms served as the initial impetus for the protests, which turned into widespread turmoil and were violently put down. The crackdown, which claimed over 350 lives, was widely condemned.

Contrary to earlier claims made by military leaders, the UN investigation exposes the alleged role of the Nicaraguan army in the repression of dissidents. According to the findings, the state’s attempts to stifle dissent were directly aided by the military.

Nicaragua has become increasingly isolated on the international scene, as seen by its decision to leave the UNHRC. Ortega’s administration is reaffirming its opposition to external control and demonstrating its rejection of international pressure by cutting off connections with the council.

Human rights groups and other governments are examining Nicaragua more closely even though it rejected the report. There may be more legal and diplomatic difficulties for the nation’s leadership in the years to come, as accusations of crimes against humanity are currently being reviewed internationally.