OneWorld.net (U.S.)

OneWorld.net's take: A recent raid on a women's organization in Nicaragua is part of a wider government crackdown on civil society, journalists, and feminists, many of whom have openly criticized President Daniel Ortega and his administration, reports an international women's rights coalition.

• The women of CEMUJER demonstrating their opposition to President Ortega's repression of women's rights defenders. © Advocacy ProjectNicaraguan women have long been fighting to protect their rights, but President Ortega's government is "chipping away at the very laws that put them in place," says Human Rights Watch. The most severe setbacks have occurred in terms of women's basic rights to life and health, continues the human rights monitor. In November 2006, Nicaragua's National Assembly banned abortion, even in cases when a woman's life is at stake, and doctors have since described the "chilling effect the ban has had on their ability to deliver emergency obstetric care," recounts HRW.

• Earlier this month, women's rights advocates in El Salvador stood in solidarity with Nicaraguan women and urged their government to block President Ortega from attending a regional summit "because of his attempts to repress and intimidate women in his country," reported the human rights group Advocacy Project. Click here to read more about CEMUJER and other women's rights groups' opposition to Ortega.

Civil Society Crackdown in Nicaragua

From: Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace

October 22, 2008

WLP colleagues from the Autonomous Women’s Movement (MAM) in Nicaragua have called our attention to the government’s raid and seizure of documents and computers from their offices on October 10th. The raid of MAM’s offices as well as the Centre for Investigation and Communication (CINCO) offices are another step of President Daniel Ortega’s government's campaign against civil society organizations, particularly feminists, who have been outspoken critics of his government.

The wider government crackdown includes harassment of several civil society organizations, journalists, and the international organization Oxfam GB, which supports the work of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The government has accused such groups of money laundering, misuse of funds, and subversion. The government has specifically targeted feminists who have been vocal in condemning Ortega’s sexual misconduct as well as the 2007 comprehensive ban on abortion. Activists have been threatened and persecuted for defending women’s rights, as have journalists who have been targeted for reporting on corruption within the government.

Similar patterns of suppression of civil society have emerged in other WLP Partner countries, beginning with the limitation and scrutiny of NGO activity. In Iran, women’s rights activists involved in campaigns to reform gender discriminatory laws are routinely arrested and jailed on charges of "endangering national security" and "spreading propaganda" against the state. Jordan has introduced a new "Societies Law" that would give government power over how an NGO is funded as well as its decision making processes and activities. In Egypt, recent legislation has made it nearly impossible for NGOs to function independently. The law places restrictions on the activities and funding of civic organizations. The state has power to decide who sits on the board of an NGO, how often executive committees can meet, and who can be invited to conferences. In 2005 Uzbekistan experienced a similar clampdown which began with measures taken by the government against NGOs and the media. After violently suppressing a public protest in Andijan, Uzbekistan's government harassed local women’s groups and human rights organizations until they eventually were forced to close operations.

For more information about women's rights activism in Nicaragua, visit Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace.