On the repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular

B100126/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular

(2025/2547(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Nicaragua, in particular, the one of 15 September 2022 on the arrest of the bishop Rolando Álvarez,

–having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas since 2018, the Nicaraguan regime systematically and arbitrarily incarcerated and persecuted presidential pre-candidates, opposition leaders, religious leaders - mainly Catholic-, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organisations (CSOs), business representatives, among others; whereas since 2018, 245 members of the clergy were either arbitrarily arrested or expelled, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez, Sakharov Prize finalist;

B.whereas on August 2024, the Ortega-Murillo regime disbanded 1,500 CSOs, among those affected are numerous religious groups mainly Catholic, bringing the total number of organisations that the regime has shut down by the regime to over 5000 since 2018;

C.whereas on 30 January 2025, constitutional reforms were approved, giving the Ortega-Murillo regime absolute power and further dismantling the separation of powers; whereas this reform allows the regime to strip the nationality dissident voices within the country and to impose tighter control over the media and the Church;

1.Strongly condemns the Nicaraguan regime’s widespread perpetration of systematic human rights violations against its population, democratic opposition, students, CSOs, and the persecution of the Catholic Church;

2.Rejects the constitutional reform, as it is regressive in terms of human rights, institutionalising a totalitarian regime that is incompatible with the characteristics of a modern democratic state;

3.Requests the Nicaraguan regime to implement the recommendations made by the GHREN, as well as those of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;

4.Calls for the EU and its Member States to include specific guarantees of compliance with human rights regarding European funds allocated, including through multilateral and financial institutions such as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, and to carry out strict monitoring to ensure that they do not contribute to strengthening the Nicaraguan regime;

5.Urges the EU to increase support for members of the Nicaraguan opposition and CSOs in exile, and to support countries receiving migrants fleeing Nicaragua, like Costa Rica;

6.Highlights the key role played by CSOs, human rights defenders, the Church and journalists in Nicaragua; asks the EU to reinforce their regular dialogue with them and strengthen mechanisms to support their vital work;

7.Calls on the EU Member States and the UN Security Council, in accordance with the Rome Statute, to open investigations through the International Criminal Court into Nicaragua and Daniel Ortega for crimes against humanity;

8.Reiterates its demand that the democratic clause of the Association Agreement be triggered; rejects any prospect of holding any dialogue thought the Joint-Parliamentary Committee that includes members of the regime-controlled Nicaraguan National Assembly;

9.Reiterates its call to expand the list of sanctioned individuals and entities to include Ortega and his inner circle;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, the VP/HR, EU Member States, the Organization of American States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the PARLACEN, and the Nicaraguan authorities.