IACHR expresses concern over new violations of the right to nationality in Nicaragua

July 10, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Special Monitoring Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI) express concern over the recent passing of reforms to Nicaragua's Political Constitution, as these would seriously undermine the protection of the right to nationality and increase the risk of statelessness in the country.

According to official sources, on May 16, 2025, the Nicaraguan Congress approved the Partial Reform Law regarding articles 23 and 25 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua during an initial legislative debate. Under this reform, any Nicaraguan citizen who acquires another nationality will automatically lose their Nicaraguan nationality. Publicly available information suggests that the reform is based on the view that nationality constitutes "a sacred pact of loyalty," and is therefore incompatible with dual citizenship.

If implemented, this reform could result in Nicaraguan citizens who acquire a second nationality—including in contexts of exile, forced displacement, or family reunification—automatically losing their Nicaraguan nationality without due process or consideration of broader consequences. The risk is even greater in cases where acquiring a second nationality depends on retaining the original one, or where individuals appear to have acquired another nationality without having actually done so.

In Resolution No. 02/23 on the Right to Nationality, the Prohibition of Arbitrary Deprivation of Nationality, and Statelessness, the IACHR emphasized that States must refrain from enacting laws that allow for the loss of nationality on the basis of leaving the country, residing abroad, or similar grounds that could put individuals at risk of statelessness.

Under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, to which Nicaragua is a party, States must not deprive a person of their nationality solely for applying for naturalization in another country, unless that person has effectively acquired or is guaranteed to acquire that nationality. This safeguard is intended to prevent statelessness resulting from the loss of nationality before the acquisition of a new one has been confirmed. Nicaragua's constitutional reform does not include provisions to ensure this protection.

The IACHR warns that this reform comes in the context of a broader campaign of repression, through which at least 450 individuals identified as government opponents have been arbitrarily stripped of their nationality since 2023. The IACHR has expressed concern in response to these acts and documented that the deprivation of nationality has been accompanied by confiscation of property, cancellation of civil records, and the revocation of legal rights. These actions amount to a form of "civil death" and have affected family members—including children and adolescents—whose right to identity has been violated by the removal of their parents from official birth records.

In light of this situation, the IACHR urges the State of Nicaragua to cease all acts of repression and stresses that the deprivation of nationality on political grounds is discriminatory and prohibited under international human rights law.

The IACHR once again calls on States in the Americas to adopt measures to ensure international protection for Nicaraguan nationals who have been forced to flee. It reminds States that individuals who are deprived of their nationality for political reasons are also considered refugees, and are therefore entitled to protection under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 137/25

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