Date: Monday 8 February (afternoon)

Country under review: NICARAGUA

1. Documents: national report (A/HRC/WG.6/7/NIC/1), compilation of UN information (A/HRC/WG.6/7/NIC/2), summary of stakeholders’ information (A/HRC/WG.6/7/NIC/3)
2. Troika: Brazil, Philippines, Zambia

Concerned country - national report

1. Represented by a 6 persons delegation and headed by the Minister of Interior, Mrs. Ana Isabel Morales Mazun
2. National report presented by H.E. Mrs. Ana Isabel Morales Mazun

Highlights:

1. The National Human Development Plan 2009–2011 has improved food, health, education, housing and social security.
2. Freedom of expression.
3. The right to food is constitutionally guaranteed.
4. The right to decent and safe housing is constitutionally guaranteed.
5. The police are perceived as professional, reliable and efficient.
6. Education is free and the illiteracy rate is less than 5%.
7. Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
8. Overhauled its justice system.
9. Approved legislation ensuring the protection of the human rights of people affected by mental disorders.
10. Approved legislation for the protection of refugees.
11. Established national programs to enhance the protection of women and children.
12. Decriminalisation of intercourse among same-sex relationships.
13. Decrease of maternal mortality and reached the low-risk level category for malaria.

Interactive discussion

Number of States taking part in the discussion

1. Member States: 20
2. Observer States: 27

Positive achievements

1. Strengthening of the normative framework for protection and protection of human rights.
2. Ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against torture.
3. Action taken to improve gender equality.

Issues and questions raised

1. Ban on abortion regardless of the health conditions of the woman.
2. Protection of human rights defenders.
3. Domestic and sexual violence against women.
4. Right to freedom of expression and assembly.
5. Impartiality and independence of the judiciary.
6. Women and children trafficking.
7. Rights of indigenous and African descent people.

Recommendations

1. Carry out thorough investigations into harassment and death threats to human rights defenders, NGO activists and journalists and undertake measures to ensure their protection.
2. Fully implement the right to freedom of expression and assembly.
3. Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
4. Ensure the full independence of the judiciary.
5. Full implementation of legislation on violence against women.
6. Improve the protection of children.
7. Abolish the abortion legislation.
8. Ensure indigenous peoples’ access to health care, education and participation in public affairs.

Response of the concerned country

1. Rights of women  – Although legislators have not included the crime of violence against women, offenders are being effectively punished under the crime of violence against the person.
2. Abortion – The National Assembly’s decision of safeguarding the right of the unborn cannot but reflect the will of the majority.
3. Freedom of expression – Full access to public information and no censorship. Moreover, the Constitution recognises the right to free association. 
4. Legitimacy of the electoral system – First country in the world to have introduced universal suffrage after an armed revolution had taken place. Presence of national, international and electoral observers.
5. Overcrowded prisons – Two penitentiary centres are about to be built and they will provide work for 1,200 people.

Adoption of the report by the UPR working group scheduled on
Wednesday 10 February, 17:30 – 18:00

More information

1. UPR: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRmain.aspx
2. Country under review (documents submitted): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/ NISession7.aspx