NSCAG, October 17th 2023
Webinar recording
‘The Nicaraguan Community Policing Model’ – held on 24 September, speakers at this webinar discussed how the Nicaraguan police, through their much-heralded community model, sustain one of the lowest crime rates, and highest levels of citizen trust, in all of Latin America. A link to the recording is here
NSCAG September Workshop - "Nicaragua: Truth Versus Lies"
Nicaragua is constantly demonised by mainstream media, Nicaragua’s right-wing opposition and those who accept its mischaracterisations at face value. Since the violent, U.S.-directed coup attempt in 2018, it has been very difficult to find objective analysis of the political situation in Nicaragua in mainstream media, much less any examination of the Revolution’s achievements.
In disregarding what is actually happening in the country, the media is ignoring and excluding the lived experience of ordinary Nicaraguans, as if their daily lives are irrelevant to any judgment about the direction the country is taking. During this event, held on 5 September, speakers described what life is really like in Nicaragua today as opposed to the media hype. To access a recording of the event, see link here.
And for a related article on the event – ‘We will continue fighting for our Revolution’ – see link here The issue of media misrepresentation is also addressed by Camila Escalante in an article which can be found here.
Virtual Course and Film Festival on Indigenous and Afro-descendant People’s Rights, 19 October – 8 November
This four-part course will take place over zoom and is free of charge. With contributions from Indigenous and Black activists in Nicaragua and the Americas, participants will learn about Nicaragua’s two Autonomous Regions, and see beautiful films about the culture and landscape of these Regions. For more info and details about how to join see link here.
Photo Exhibition
A photo exhibition celebrating the people of San Francisco Libre, Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua, and the projects supported by Reading will take place at Reading Library from 17 October – 18 November. Further information here.
Infant Mortality Cut in Half
The Sandinista Government has reduced infant mortality by 56.5%, from 29 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006 to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health has implemented many actions such as attending ten times more births in hospitals and health centres. In 2006, 9,000 women were cared for in maternity wait homes prior to giving birth while in 2022 that number had increased to 71,925, eight times more. Fifty maternity wait homes existed in 2006; in 2022 there are now 181 maternity wait homes. Meanwhile, more than one million families have been visited house to house through the follow-up programme for children with low birth weight. To read more about Nicaragua’s advances in health care, see this article by Nan McCurdy and Katherine Hoyt – link here.
Securing land rights for those who are impoverished, recognising the historical rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant people – a Nicaraguan Success Story
In 2007 the Sandinista government inherited an 'archipelago' of property rights structures including a chaotic land registry. This mess created property insecurity particularly for small scale farmers on land with no titles. It also left the door wide open for corruption linked with land trafficking. The government has addressed these complex issues though all state institutions working together to set up a well-integrated framework prioritising those most impoverished, gender equity, and the historical rights of indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. According to a World Bank report ‘a major achievement under the strategy is a consolidated land administration framework in targeted areas that has strengthened the population’s property rights through improved regularization, titling, and registry services.’
* Between 2013 and 2020 this benefited 935,813 people of whom 50 % are women.
* Five protected areas were successfully demarcated and geo-referenced
* The new National Integrated Registry Information System has been completed and has so far been implemented in Managua and Estelí, two of the most important areas for Nicaragua's economy.
Sanctions
On June 8 this year, US Senators Marco Rubio and Tim Kaine introduced legislation which would extend the US government’s authority to impose sanctions on Nicaragua through December 31, 2028. The bill is now in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with no vote taken yet. These enhanced sanctions, which once more aim to destabilise the country and bring about ‘regime change’ – will only serve to cause harm to the poorest and most vulnerable in the country. To read more, see link here See also this article by Jeremy Kuzmarov - ‘Biden has relaunched Reagan’s murderous war against Nicaraguan Democracy–how many is he willing to kill to win?’ – link here.
Latin America Conference – Save the Date
The Latin America Conference 2024 will take place on Saturday 27 January 2024, 10am – 5pm, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BB. Book your place now! See link here
Forthcoming delegations
‘Power and Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua’ – 6-14 January 2024. Details here
‘Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Descendant Peoples in Caribbean Coast Autonomous Regions’ – 20 January- 1 February 2024. Delegation organised by Casa Ben Linder and Alliance for Global Justice. Details here
Speakers
We are always pleased to provide speakers for regional/branch meetings, so if you would like someone to come along to one of your meetings, please email Louise on nscag@nicaraguasc.org.uk In solidarity
Louise Richards,
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group
www.nscag.org
Twitter: @NSCAG_UK