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**Stop the Attacks on Women's Rights Leaders in Nicaragua***
*

*URGENT ACTION ALERT*


As an organization that shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice and respect for the capacity of women to make moral decisions about their lives, */Catholics for Choice/* (CFC) calls on all SRHR and HR related international organizations abroad to act in solidarity with the Nicaraguan women's rights defenders who are being harassed by the Sandinista government.

*The Facts*

* *

· Through the */Latin American and Caribbean Women's Health Network, LACWHN/*, CFC has learned that women's rights defenders (see list of names below) have received summonses to appear in Court on ludicrous charges including corruption.

· The attacks have not been limited to legal proceedings, but also include direct threats against their lives and the lives of their families.

· Police raided some organizations' headquarters to intimidate those inside as well as other Nicaraguan activists who have expressed disagreement with the current regime.

· The women who are being harassed include Ana María Pizarro, Sofía Montenegro, Patricia Orozco, Juanita Jiménez, Lorna Norori, Luisa Molina Arguello, Martha María Blandón, Martha Munguía, Mayra Sirias, Violeta Delgado and Yamileth Mejía; and lately the NGO /"Las Venancias"/.

This situation is totally unacceptable and deserves the most profound condemnation by every organization that defends human rights and
especially women's rights.

* *

*What CFC Proposes to Do*

* *

We invite you to declare solidarity with our colleagues in Nicaragua who face persecution because of their longstanding and steadfast commitment to improving women's lives. National, regional and international attention must be drawn to their plight.

· _Forward this URGENT ACTION ALERT_ based on the one sent by the /LACWHN/, to all other relevant contacts calling on them distribute it widely;

· Write a _letter to the Embassy of Nicaragua_ in your country as an organization or an individual---talking points are below and a model letter is attached /(which will be soon translated into Spanish to be mailed to other contacts in Latin America)/;

· Write a _Letter to the Editor_ to one or more of the Nicaraguan media outlets below who, we are told, are very receptive towards publishing international messages of solidarity as the threatened activists and civil society leaders include several journalists and media advocates:

*La Prensa:*

o Eduardo Enríquez (Editor):* Eduardo_enrique@laprensa.com.ni
<mailto:Eduardo_enrique@laprensa.com.ni>*

o Jaime Chamorro: *jchamorro@laprensa.com.ni
<mailto:jchamorro@laprensa.com.ni>*

o Rolando Flores (Jefe de Redacción): *rolando.flores@laprensa.com.ni
<mailto:rolando.flores@laprensa.com.ni>*

o Dora Romero: *dora.romero@laprensa.com.ni
<mailto:dora.romero@laprensa.com.ni> *

*El Nuevo Diario:*

o*esanchez@elnuevodiario.com.ni <mailto:esanchez@elnuevodiario.com.ni>*
(Editor)

o *fchamorro@elnuevodiario.com.ni
<mailto:fchamorro@elnuevodiario.com.ni>* (Director)

· _E-mail to the government's official website_ (below) expressing your
opposition to the recent attacks on civil society.

o At the section */"CONTACTENOS"/* inside the messages' box:
*http://www.elpueblopresidente.com/contacto.html *

* *

*Additional Talking Points*

* *

· The government's behavior is unacceptable and reprehensible. Democracy
must be built and strengthened by society as a whole, without the
exclusion or state repression of those whose beliefs differ from
official policy.

· Our colleagues have put themselves on the front line of the struggle
for rights, and because of their dedication they are at serious risk
under the campaign orchestrated against them by the administration of
Daniel Ortega. These actions are undoubtedly revenge for the
denunciations by the women's movement against Ortega for his direct
participation in overturning the right to therapeutic abortion in
Nicaragua in October 2006.

· As organizations supporting and working for the rights of women all
over the world and especially in Latin American and the Caribbean, we
*[name of your organization] *demand that the Ortega administration
immediately cease its attacks on and false accusations against the
activists and uphold in its entirety the spirit of the UN Declaration on
Human Rights.

· The Declaration on Human Rights calls for governments to protect the
rights which are fundamental to the work of these activists, including
the right to meet and assemble peacefully; to form, join and participate
in nongovernmental organizations; to hold and publish information about
human rights; to complain about the policies and actions of officials
and government bodies; and to enjoy unhindered access to international
bodies. This declaration recognizes that the ideals consecrated in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights can only be become a reality if
all persons can participate in the application of human rights and if
those who strive to promote them can do so without interference,
obstacles, threats or fear of retaliation.

· As an organization who works for women's health and/or human rights in
Latin America and the Caribbean, *[name of your organization] *will
continue our actions in solidarity with these activists until such time
as they are permitted to continue their work free from harassment and
intimidation.

On behalf of Catholics for Choice,

Dr. Carmen Valenzuela-Dall

Senior International Program Officer

Catholics for Choice - //In Good Conscience//

Tel. (202) 986-6093, Ext. 226

*www.catholicsforchoice.org <http://www.catholicsforchoice.org> *


Download sample letter to nicaraguan embassies