Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nicaragua about the additional restrictions imposed on churches during Easter Holy Week, and whether they are taking to address the human rights situation in that country, particularly with regard to the recommendations of the report The Silencing of Democracy in Nicaragua, published by three all-party parliamentary groups in April 2024.

We share the widespread international concern about the relentless suppression of human rights in Nicaragua and are deeply concerned by reports of restrictions imposed on churches during Holy Week. I welcome the scrutiny of Parliamentary colleagues in producing 'The Silencing of Democracy in Nicaragua' report. Officials have considered the recommendations in detail and have used them to inform our approach. This includes continuing to urge Nicaragua to re-establish democratic freedoms through bilateral engagements and public statements in international fora. On 28 February 2025 at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, we raised our grave human rights concerns, including relating to freedom of religion and belief.