Nicaragua: Index | News | Organizations | Resources

Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Nicaragua
In-country | International

In-country

Resident Shelter for Victims of Abuse in Waslala
Women's Funding Network (sponsor)
September 2004
In the last few decades Waslala, an extremely isolated region just north of Nicaragua, has experienced intense armed conflict, and as a result has high regional and domestic violence and sexual abuse rates. Abuse victims, generally women and girls, need physical, emotional, and legal support. The residential shelter will house 15-25 women and children, and allows them to leave traumatic pasts and begin to recover, both emotionally and physically. Once women are ready, they reenter their community. Through this project, women are provided with a safe residence and participate in programs that provide emotional recuperation and legal support to assist with issues such as protection of children, divorce, and legalization of properties. The current cost of this project is $10,285; to learn more about it and/or contribute, please click here, or contact Carla Lopez, Programs Coordinator. De la Rotunda El Gueguense, 4 cuadros abajo, 1 al lado, Managua, Nicaragua. Tel: 505-254-4982.

Empowering Young Women Sex Workers
Women's Funding Network (sponsor)
September 2004
In Managua, approximately 1,500 women, ages 14 to 28, are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Most of them suffer police abuses, violence from the community and from their clients (rapes, demands for unprotected sex, robberies) while they have a limited knowledge of their rights. The project targets 80 women, but ultimately will provide resources for many other sex workers and influence the larger community. Through this initiative, two groups of 40 young sex workers will attend eight workshops each to allow them to define their own protection mechanisms and form alliances. Women will receive educational materials and an informational directory of local service organizations. These workshops will enable young female sex workers identify situations that violate their human rights and form supportive alliances. 100% of target women will be able to access resources to protect themselves against STDs, HIV/AIDS and sexual assault. The project present costs are $3,300; to learn more and/or contribute, please click here, or contact Carla Lopez, Programs Coordinator, De la Rotonda El Gueguense, 4 cuadros abajo, 1 al lago, Managua, Nicaragua. Tel: 505-254-4982.

Children and Young People’s Rights Civic Campaign
2003
The Commission for the Defense of Human Rights, jointly with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECD) and the National Council for Children and Young People (CONAPINA) launched a civic campaign aiming to raise awareness about children and young people’s human rights in Nicaragua. A media campaign has been organized through radio advertisements, banners and posters to promote children and young people’s human rights in the society. For more information click here (http://www.euram.com.ni/pverdes/Articulos/pddh_194.htm)

I am a citizen: I demand to live without Violence!
2002
Every year the Women’s Network Against Violence launches a an annual campaign to support and promote women’s right to live without violence. The theme of the 2002 campaign was “I am a citizen: I demand to live without violence”. For more information contact the Women’s Network Against Violence. (mailto:laredmcv@ibw.com.ni)

Media Campaign to Promote Women’s Rights
2001
The Movement of Working and Unemployed Women “Maria Elena Cuadra” organized an annual media campaign to promote the rights of women in vulnerable situations. More than 10,000 manuals explaining the laws protecting women’s rights were distributed. For more information visit the Movement of Working and Unemployed Women “Maria Elena Cuadra” (http://www.mec.org.ni)

Violence Against Women: A Disaster Men can Avoid!
1999
A coalition of 50 organizations, including Puntos de Encuentro (Meeting Points), Women Rights Center and the Men’s Group Against Violence, launched the first National Campaign for the Nicaraguan Men to stop violence against women. Violence against women in Nicaragua has the characteristics of a national disaster. It was mostly a media campaign that combined TV and radio advertisements, banners, posters and educational activities. It was focused in the areas more affected by the Mitch Hurricane, such as León, Chinandega, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. For more information visit Puntos de Encuentro (Meeting Points) (http://www.puntos.org.ni/)

Law 230. No more impunity. I want to live without violence!
1997
The Women’s Network Against Violence launched a media campaign to promote and raise awareness about women’s rights and the Law 230 against familiar violence approved in 1996. For more information contact the Women’s Network Against Violence. (mailto:laredmcv@ibw.com.ni)

National Congress Against Violence
1995-1996
The Women’s Network Against Violence organized the First National Congress Against Violence aiming to promote women’s right to live without violence. More than 500 women and 150 national organizations participated in the Congress. The main objective was to urge the national government to pass a law against family violence and to reform the penal code regarding women’s rights abuses. The law 230 against intra-family violence was approved in 1996. For more information contact the Women’s Network Against Violence. (mailto:laredmcv@ibw.com.ni)

International

OPEN LETTER ASKING FOR SOLIDARITY
November 22, 2007

Dear colleagues from feminist and women's organizations from different regions of the world:

We regret to inform you that in Nicaragua, a new action of the increased presence of fundamentalists attacking feminists for defending the human rights of women is taking place. The so-called National Association for Human Rights (ANPDH), which has legal registration (even though their activities and headquarters are unknown), an organization sponsored by the Catholic right wing and the Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of the country, have filed a case on the crime of coverage and omission on the case of rape and others (as parallel action to the trial against the father of Rosita - the 9 year old little girl that was raped and got pregnant as a result of it, who has been sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment), against the following colleagues:

1.- Ana Maria Pizarro, member of the Regional Coordination of the Campaign September 28 for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean
2.- Juanita Jiménez, person responsible for Advocacy of the Network of Women against Violence (until recently)
3.- Lorna Norori, Psychologist
4.- Luisa Molina Arguello, spokesperson of the Federation of NGOs working with Children and Adolescents
5.- Martha Maria Blandón, from the Sexuality, Maternity and Rights Forum and IPAS Central America
6.- Martha Munguia, director of the Center Mujeres Acción Ya
7.- Mayra Sirias, current spokesperson of the Network of Women against Violence and member of its Coordinating Body
8.- Violeta Delgado, former Executive Coordinator of the Network of Women against Violence
9.- Yamileth Mejia, person responsible of Political Training of the Network of Women against Violence (until recently)

Given the seriousness of the case, the Women's Autonomous Movement of Nicaragua has disseminated the following letter:

Dear friends,

The General Attorney's Office of the Republic, the National Association for Human Rights filed a case against 9 well-known leaders of the women's movement of Nicaragua, accused as responsible of committing some criminal acts.

These compañeras are members of different civil society spaces and organizations, they have a long history of struggle in favor of women's rights, freedom and justice, democracy and socioeconomic development of the country, and most of them are members of the National Network of Women against Violence. These social activists had an important participation in support of the denounce presented by Zoilamérica Narváez of sexual abused by her step-father, the current President of the Republic.

Through information we received today, the afternoon of November 22nd, we know that the General's Attorneys Office has instructions to proceed immediately in prosecuting the case, preparing the accusation and doing a fast trial guaranteeing a sentence against the nine accused, to take them to jail.

With this decision, backed by the presidential couple, (Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo) an action of political vengeance and repression is being implemented for those who supported Zoilamérica's quest for justice. Also, they are trying to negatively affect the credibility of women's spaces and organizations that with courage have always denounced crimes of violence and sexual abuse of all the victims that have approach them for assistance.

We call all women's and other civil society organizations to mobilize against this repressive action of political terrorism and to defend the rights and freedom of our compañeras, and to reject through different means the actions of the presidential couple and the Attorney's office.

Meanwhile, the Network of Women against Violence has call on all its members to coordinate a joint response, that several other organizations from all over the country are supporting, as well as organizations with
which the women's movements has alliances and joint work, as well as diverse groups promoting sexual diversity.

It does not go without saying that we expect all sorts of expressions of solidarity by the international women's and feminist movements, which has historically and permanently denounced the arbitrary actions that are faced by women who are struggling to advance rights for all.

Your solidarity messages can be sent to the email address of the Campaign 28 of September: c28set@turbonett.com

Thanking you all in advance for your support,

Patricia Orozco A.

Regional Coordinator of the Campaign 28 of September

US-Nicaragua Women's Empowerment Project
Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua (WCCN)
The US-Nicaragua Women's Empowerment Project (WEP) began in 1990 following a WCCN delegation to Nicaragua and is WCCN's longest-running program. It was founded in the belief that people in the United States and Nicaragua have much to learn from each other regarding gender issues. Many of the challenges that women face worldwide transcend political, economic, geographic, racial, and other divisions. By forging connections across borders, WEP fosters growth, understanding, and transformation both here and abroad. .Make a tax-deductible donation to WCCN for the US-Nicaragua Women's Empowerment Project or click here to learn more about what they do.