Costa Rica, June 13 (V7N) – Nicaragua announced its immediate withdrawal from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Thursday, accusing the organization of "biased" statements regarding Nicaraguans seeking refuge abroad. This latest move further isolates the Central American nation from international oversight as its government faces escalating criticism over its human rights record.

In a letter signed by Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke and addressed to UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi, Nicaragua declared its "sovereign decision to immediately withdraw from the UN refugee agency UNHCR." The move comes after UNHCR recently called for increased international assistance for thousands of Nicaraguans fleeing poverty and repression into neighboring Costa Rica, citing reduced funding that left many refugees without adequate protection.

The foreign minister's letter, circulated by pro-government media, strongly criticized UNHCR, alleging it had become "an instrument of manipulation, double standards and interference in the internal affairs of states."

This withdrawal from UNHCR is part of a pattern of increasing disengagement from international bodies by the government of President Daniel Ortega. In the past year alone, Nicaragua has also announced its departure from UNESCO (after the UN cultural agency awarded its annual press prize to a Nicaraguan newspaper whose staff were forced into exile), the UN Human Rights Council, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Labour Organization. These withdrawals have consistently followed or preceded reports and criticisms from these organizations regarding Nicaragua's human rights situation.

President Daniel Ortega, 79, who has been a dominant figure in Nicaraguan politics since 1979, has significantly consolidated power since returning to the presidency in 2007. His government has been accused by numerous international human rights organizations, including the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, of systematic human rights violations. These include:


Suppression of Dissent: Since major anti-government protests in 2018, which Ortega labeled a US-backed coup attempt, his government has violently suppressed dissent. This includes unlawful or arbitrary killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and the systematic silencing of opposition voices.

Erosion of Rule of Law: Experts have highlighted a severe erosion of judicial independence and the dismantling of remaining checks on government power, leading to the prosecution of civil society actors as "terrorists" or "coup mongers."
Attacks on Civil Society and Media: Thousands of NGOs, universities, and independent media outlets have been shut down or had their legal status revoked. Journalists and human rights defenders face harassment, threats, and forced exile, with some having their nationality arbitrarily stripped.

Forced Exile and Statelessness: The government has engaged in a policy of "exile, jail, or death" for perceived opponents, with hundreds of individuals, including prominent opposition figures, writers, and journalists, being deprived of their nationality and forced into exile, leaving many stateless.
Persecution of the Catholic Church: Attacks on the Catholic Church, which began in 2018, have escalated, including the detention of clergy, investigations into alleged money laundering, and the closure of church-affiliated institutions.
Nicaragua's continued withdrawal from international oversight mechanisms raises significant concerns about the safety and well-being of its citizens, particularly those seeking refuge. For Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers in countries like Costa Rica, the UNHCR's withdrawal means they will be deprived of direct assistance, legal support, and protection services previously provided by the agency. This places a greater burden on host countries and other humanitarian organizations. It also severely limits the international community's ability to monitor and address the human rights situation within Nicaragua and to advocate for those forced to flee.

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