In the last ten years, Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in Nicaragua have been forced to move to Costa Rica fleeing violence, land invasions and socio-political crisis. For indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, forced migration means losing territory and community life, traditions, language, economic activities and traditional forms of organization.

 That day, anguish, pain, sadness, and worry overwhelmed these families when the news arrived that the body of Carlos Cárdenas Zepeda, who had been missing, had been returned lifeless. Less than a week earlier, this was the second political prisoner to die, the first being Mauricio Alonso Petrie. Both had fallen victim to recent waves of arrests and were in a state of forced disappearance. Mauricio Alonso had been arrested along with his wife and son on 18 July 2025, while Carlos Cárdenas was detained in mid-August.
 

The International Community must act to protect the Nicaraguan opponents exiled in Costa Rica

Geneva, June 23.The 46/2 Collective denounces to the international community the assassination of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam Ruíz, which occurred on June 19 in his home in San José, Costa Rica.

Today, 26 March 2025, the final report of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Nicaragua was scheduled to be adopted at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council. However, this adoption could not take place, as the State of Nicaragua did not send the report, nor did it attend the session.

On March 8th, Nicaraguan feminists once again took to the streets of San José, Costa Rica, chanting the slogan, “We march here; we can’t in our country. ” PBI accompanied the refugee women’s bloc during the march.

From PBI, we share the joy of Nicaraguan organizations and defenders at the news on Thursday, September 5, of the release of 135 people who were imprisoned for political reasons in Nicaraguan jails. Among these people were several human rights defenders, feminist activists, young people, university professors and journalists, among others.

March 22nd is World Water Day. This year, representatives from Guatemala’s diverse indigenous peoples and territories presented their findings and demands regarding the water situation to the government of Bernardo Arévalo. This was the result of 24 assemblies for water and life, held during the first quarter of the year in different regions. Over 600 people from more than 35 community organizations, including ancestral authorities, participated in these assemblies.

We are very excited to present the new website of PBI Nicaragua, where you will be able to learn about the history of the Nicaragua Project and go through the most important moments in our accompaniment of Nicaraguan people and organisations in exile, from 2020 to the present day. On the PBI website, you will not only have access to the most up-to-date information about the accompaniment activities of the Nicaragua Project, but also about the organisations we accompany.

The work of the Nicaragua Project has focused on advocacy for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the first semester of 2024, which this year corresponds to Nicaragua. 

We started with a training process in conjunction with the OHCHR and continued with support in advising Civil Society reports to be submitted to the Human Rights Council and in advocacy actions towards the international community.