Today, Nicaragua’s withdrawal from the Organization of American States (OAS) Charter took effect. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo’s decision to further isolate Nicaragua from the international community demonstrates their desperation to avoid any effort by the OAS or like-minded partners to hold them accountable for egregious human rights abuses. Their abuses include unjustly detaining, convicting, and mistreating political prisoners – including Bishop Rolando Alvarez; attacking independent journalists; and forcing hundreds of civil society organizations and educational institutions to close or hand over operations to the state.
Nicaragua’s actions are an affront to the Western Hemisphere’s commitment to democracy. Despite Ortega and Murillo’s denunciation of the OAS Charter, Nicaragua remains bound by its human rights and governance obligations under remaining treaties and instruments, including the American Convention on Human Rights. The United States, working with our partners in the OAS, continues to review all available and appropriate tools to hold Ortega, Murillo, and their surrogates accountable for their actions. We renew our call for the Nicaraguan authorities to uphold their obligations and fulfill the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The OAS serves as the preeminent multilateral organization in the Western Hemisphere and has a long history of supporting the democratic advancement of all nations in the Americas. The United States reiterates our support for the people of Nicaragua and their pursuit of fundamental freedoms, human rights, and democracy.
