Action Alert: Sign a Letter Protesting a 2024 Report to the UN on Human Rights Experts in Nicaragua bit.ly/NicaUN2024 Sign the Spanish Version: bit.ly/NicaONU2024
Please sign our letter protesting a recent UN report by the mis-named Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN). In a few days, we will forward our letter to the UN Human Rights Council, following a similar missive being sent this week by authentic human rights experts including former UN Independent Expert on International Order, Alfred de Zayas. [See coverage further below of another statement to the UN by de Zayas, denouncing “sanctions.”]
An excerpt from our letter follows:
This is the second report by the GHREN. The first, published in March 2023, was condemned in a letter signed by many prominent human rights experts and by 119 organizations and 573 individuals.[2] This letter was totally ignored.
The Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition submitted detailed evidence to the GHREN on the errors and omissions in their first report. These submissions received no response, nor are they acknowledged in the new report. Clearly, the GHREN takes into account only evidence that is supplied by opponents of Nicaragua’s government. This renders absurd the study group’s claim to exercise “independence, impartiality, objectivity, transparency, integrity.”
Second Action Alert: Letter to UN, 1,000 Signatures Sought; Protest Assassination Plots Against President Maduro, Defend Venezuela’s Sovereignty bit.ly/defend-vzla-sign-on
“…. these assassination plots are taking place in a country that is subject to over 900 unilateral coercive measures. These measures threaten Venezuela’s right to development and contradict the principles of sovereignty affirmed in the Charter of the United Nations….”
New Charge d’Affaires at Nicaraguan Embassy in the US Will Speak at UNAC Conference: We wish Ambassador Francisco Campbell well in his retirement, and we welcome M. Lautaro Sandino Montes as the new Charge d’Affaires at the embassy in Washington, DC. Lautaro Sandino brings an impressive forty years of experience to his new assignment. His more recent positions have included Ambassador to Ethiopia (2023); law professor at the National University of Nicaragua (2020-2022); Ambassador to Belgium (2009-2020); and project and planning director at the Augusto C. Sandino Foundation (FACS) ((2000-2007). His native language is Spanish, and his English is advanced level; he also speaks basic French.
He is already heavily engaged in his new work. He will give a morning keynote speech on April 6 at the conference of The United National AntiWar Coalition (UNAC). [See conference schedule here.] His presentation will cover the accomplishments of the revolution, the new world order, and Nicaragua’s role in international law. That afternoon he is a panelist at a conversational workshop on sanctions; other panelists are William Camacaro, David Paul, Sara Flounders, and Allison Bodine. In the evening, a reception for international solidarity will feature Lautaro Sandino and also the ambassador from the Polisario Front.
Impressive Status of Women in Nicaragua: Message From Nicaraguan Government to the 68th Session Of The Commission Of The Status Of Women (CSW): March 11-22, 2024, New York. This statement contains some remarkable information. Here is a sample: “In 2023, the World Economic Forum ranked Nicaragua as the first country in Latin America with the highest gender equality and as the number 7 worldwide, while on the UN Women Political Map we are ranked fourth in countries with women in Ministerial positions and in the Third Place with the most women in the National Assembly. In the National Assembly, out of 91 Deputies, 50 are Women and in the Central American Parliament, out of 20 Deputies, 10 are Women. In Local Governments, out of 153 Municipal Mayorships, 82 are female Mayors.”
Video recording from March 24 webinar, “Brave Women, Strong Women: Power & Protagonism in Nicaragua.” This is an interesting and inspiring report-back from January delegation members who explored Nicaraguan women’s roles and experiences as active protagonists in their society Speakers are Adrienne Ayers, Krista Chan, Virginia Pratt, and delegation leader Becca Renk. Links to their slideshows:
Human Rights Expert Denounces “Sanctions” at UN: On March 25, the former UN Independent Expert on International Order, Alfred de Zayas, made a presentation to the UN Security Council about unilateral coercive measures (UCMs), often called “sanctions.” He denounced UCMs and urged, “Let us …stop referring to UCMs as ‘sanctions’. The only legal sanctions are those imposed by this Security Council. Everything else constitutes the unlawful use of force in contravention of the letter and spirit of the UN Charter…. Moreover, the word ‘sanctions’ implies that the State imposing them has the moral or legal authority to do so. This is not the case….”
De Zayas then proposed seven action steps “to rescue the international order and … give recourse and remedy to the victims.” His entire statement is well worth reading, but here is a summary of the seven proposals:
1. Charge international welfare organizations to asses and publicize impacts of sanctions
2. Establish a sanctions watch international observatory
3. Address victim compensation and crimes against humanity through the UN General Assembly/World Court.
4. Invoke the genocide convention.
5. Treat under inter-state complaints procedures.
6. Apply duty of rescue laws.
7. Extend state diplomatic protection to victims of sanctions.
Other Interesting Media Items:
Spanish translation of article: https://www.tortillaconsal.com/bitacora/node/3756
Events and Delegations:
UNAC Conference, April 5-7, St. Paul: “Decolonization and the fight against Imperialism” Nicaragua’s Charge d’Affaires in Washington DC, Lautaro Sandino, will be a keynote speaker.
Webinar – Sunday, April 21, 3pm ET: Mark your calendars! A government representative from Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast will speak about the recent elections in the Caribbean Coast autonomous regions. More information is coming soon.
End all Unilateral Measures in the Americas: Endorse the Americas without Sanctions Campaign Find more information and send a letter to your Congressperson here: https://linktr.ee/americas_without_sanctions.
Upcoming Delegations to Nicaragua Casa Ben Linder 2024 delegations:
June 8-16: Global Health Intensive
July 9-21: Solidarity in Action: Celebrating 45 Years of Revolution in Nicaragua
November 8-17: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition: nicasolidarity.net
Sign up to receive the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition weekly newsletter; email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com
Our monthly zoom meetings: Date change for April only: Monday, April 15, 2:30 PM ET. Usually held the second Monday. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to request Zoom access for the meeting, or to make other inquiries.
Organizations: Apply for coalition membership here This is an important way to increase the influence of our coalition work, as our membership list grows.
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