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International Mechanism Submissions

Nicaragua - Committee Against Torture - Human Rights Defenders - June 2022

Nicaragua continues to arbitrarily detain people for prolonged periods in violation of domestic and international law. Some have been arrested without a warrant or charged with fake crimes. Persons arrested have reported being denied access to their lawyers and families. People in detention have reported experiencing torture by Nicaraguan authorities who attempt to extract false confessions. 

Conditions in Nicaragua's prisons are inhumane. Prisons are overcrowded and lack access to safe drinking water. Some persons in detention are only allowed to leave their cells for a maximum of 30 minutes every week. 

Human Rights Defenders and Political dissenters are frequent targets of arbitrary detention, harassment, and violence from Nicaraguan authorities and from pro-government armed groups with the acquiescence of the State.