Nicaragua has recently revoked the registration of 1,500 non-profit organizations, marking a significant development in the country's ongoing crackdown on civil society groups. The move, detailed in a notice published in the government gazette, La Gaceta, cited the organizations' failure to report financial statements over varying periods, ranging from one to 35 years.
Among the affected organizations were a diverse range of groups, including sports clubs, health organizations, women's rights advocates, LGBTQ rights groups, legal associations, and veterans' clubs. Notably, over 400 of the organizations were religiously affiliated, predominantly Christian in nature.
The decision to cancel the legal status of these non-profits has drawn international attention and condemnation. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed deep concern over the closures, highlighting the erosion of civic space and restrictions on religious freedom in Nicaragua.
This latest action is part of a broader pattern of diminishing civil liberties in Nicaragua under the leadership of President Daniel Ortega. The government's crackdown on dissent has seen the arrest of opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists, as well as the closure of numerous NGOs, media outlets, and universities.
In response to the closures, the Vatican and Pontifical Commission for Latin America were contacted for comment, while the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights raised alarm over the situation in Nicaragua. The international community continues to monitor the human rights situation in the country closely, particularly in light of recent arrests and restrictions on civic space.
Nicaragua's trajectory under President Ortega has sparked widespread criticism and condemnation, with calls for greater respect for human rights and democratic principles. The impact of these actions on Nicaraguan society and the broader implications for civil society remain subjects of ongoing concern and scrutiny.
