A three-member group of experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council found in a new report released Friday that authorities have used physical and psychological violence against both students and staff, including threats, beatings and long periods of solitary confinement. .
Some of these cases may amount to torture and primarily concern students and professors who participated in widespread anti-government protests in 2018 or those who publicly criticized President Daniel Ortega’s government.
Experts point out that Nicaragua’s universities have long played a historic role as spaces for social change and resistance, dating back to the Sandinista Revolution in 1979.
As a result, “the Nicaraguan government directly targeted the university as part of a broader campaign of repression. remove their autonomy and make them centers of political control;” said Jan Simon, chairman of the group. None of them receive compensation for their work and are not UN employees.
closure, expulsion
Between 2021 and 2024, At least 37 universities Higher education institutions, most of which are known for supporting social movements, have had their legal status revoked due to administrative sanctions.
Experts emphasized that the closure is part of a broader strategy to: Prevent organized opposition and limit academic freedom.
Moreover, after the 2018 protests, Hundreds of students and professors were arbitrarily expelled or dismissed. However, a certain percentage suffer from government censorship and data restrictions.
Government reform and university control
In 2022, the government introduced reforms through Law 1114, eliminating university autonomy and centralizing control over academic institutions.
Experts emphasized that this reform undermined independent thinking and freedom by effectively placing the government in charge of the finances, administration, and curriculum of educational institutions.
The report also found that students and professors deemed critical of the regime at universities that did not close now face barriers to obtaining diplomas or transcripts. This limits not only their educational progress but also their future employment opportunities.
An international call to action
The expert group called on the international community to ensure that the Nicaraguan state restores the autonomy of its universities and guarantees security and freedom of expression in the academic field.
“Academics deserve a safe and free space to express their ideas and contribute to the social development of our country, and this right must be urgently restored. With these actions, the government is jeopardizing the future of the country,” Mr. Simon stressed.
