WCCN has received news from several sources about intimidation suffered by various organizations that promote and defend women’s rights in Nicaragua.
We have learned that Ana María Pizarro, Juana Antonia Jiménez, Lorna Norori, Martha María Blandón, Luisa Molina, Martha Munguía, Mayra Sirias, Yamilet Mejía and Violeta Delgado, leaders of women’s organizations such as the Network of Women Against Violence, the Coordinating Committee on Children and Adolescents in Nicaragua, and the September 28th Campaign, were accused before the Public Ministry of obstructing the administration of justice, covering up the crime of rape, illicit association for criminal purposes, and inciting criminal acts.
According to the information we have received, the Public Ministry has already interviewed the nine accused; however, it has not yet decided whether or not it will bring them to trial.
These charges are part of the larger context of the struggle by these organizations, as well as human-rights organizations, to decriminalize therapeutic abortion, which is an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. This was outlawed in Nicaragua in October of 2006. This struggle has taken the form of demonstrations and legal tools such as appeals on the grounds that this law is unconstitutional.
WCCN has been working closely with several women’s organizations in Nicaragua for the last 18 years, including the Network of Women Against Violence.
WCCN condemns these acts of judicial intimidation and harrassment, as well as acts committed in an effort to de-legitimize and discredit defenders of women’s human rights and their work.
WCCN trusts that the Public Ministry of Nicaragua will not take legal measures against the charged leaders.
WCCN will continue to support the accused, and will be paying close attention to the situation as it develops.
Leaders tour the United States
As this edition of Nicaraguan Developments was being put together, WCCN organized a national tour of Violeta Delgado and Yamilet Mejía, two of the nine accused women, with the aim of spreading the word about the current women’s rights situation in Nicaragua. Violeta and Yamilet visited the cities of New York, Washington D.C., Madison and San Francisco and met with different groups, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission of Women, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Inter-American Dialogue, WOLA, MADRE, Vital Voices, WCCN, Nicaraguan Network, Quixote Center, and the Global Fund for Women.
