Nicaragua is facing one of the most severe human rights crises in Latin America, marked by a sustained process of state repression that, according to international organizations, has led to the systematic denial of fundamental freedoms. What began as a state response to the 2018 social protests has evolved into a model of control that now affects civil, political, educational, religious, and freedom of expression rights.
Denied Rights in Latin America
Human rights crisis in Nicaragua: warnings from international organizations
This was highlighted by Félix Maradiaga, president of the Liberal Network of Latin America (RELIAL), former presidential candidate, and former political prisoner, who stated that in the country “absolutely all the rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been denied.” His statements align with reports presented by the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
According to these organizations, one of the main violations concerns the right to life and personal liberty. Since 2018, hundreds of extrajudicial killings and more than 2,200 politically motivated detentions have been documented. The UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua has indicated that these practices are not isolated incidents, but rather part of an “organized state apparatus” that includes arbitrary detentions, torture, and cruel treatment against real or perceived opponents.
Closure of civic and educational space in Nicaragua
The closure of civic space has also impacted the education system and political participation. More than 26 universities have been shut down or intervened by the state, affecting thousands of students and teachers. At the same time, opposition political parties have been canceled, leaving only organizations aligned with the ruling party. Maradiaga stated that this scenario “functions as a single-party system, even if an appearance of pluralism is maintained.”
Freedom of expression: Nicaragua without independent press
Freedom of expression has seen one of the deepest setbacks. Human Rights Watch warned that Nicaragua is currently the only country in Latin America without an independent print press, following the closure, confiscation of assets, and forced exile of media outlets and journalists.
Statelessness and forced exile as state policy
Another mechanism identified as a form of punishment is the loss of nationality. In 2023, the state approved regulations allowing it to strip citizenship from individuals considered opponents. More than 435 Nicaraguans have been declared stateless, including Félix Maradiaga and his wife, while thousands are banned from entering the country. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights warned that these decisions violate basic principles of international law and consolidate forced exile as a state policy.
Repression has also extended into the religious sphere. Reports by Amnesty International have documented detentions, expulsions, and harassment against members of the Catholic Church and evangelical churches, as well as restrictions on religious celebrations and activities, reinforcing—according to these organizations—a system of total control over both public and private life.
Although experts recognize similar patterns in countries such as Venezuela and Cuba, they agree that the Nicaraguan case represents one of the most extreme scenarios in the region, combining political repression, the elimination of civic space, and legal sanctions such as statelessness, according to the international reports reviewed.
