USAID|Nicaragua: From the American People Success Stories
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U.S. Government Support Strengthens Democracy in Nicaragua

 

Since October 2005, the U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided approximately $23.2 million dollars in support to strengthen democracy in Nicaragua before, during, and after the Nicaraguan elections of November 2006.

U.S. government assistance programs (1) have helped promote free and fair elections in Nicaragua in November 2006; (2) have strengthened judicial institutions and contributed to the enactment of better and more modern laws drafted and approved with strong public participation and ownership; and (3) have provided assistance to civil society organizations to promote greater transparency and accountability of government and freedom of information for the media and the public.

U.S. aid programs are diverse and benefit all citizens of Nicaragua, regardless of religious, political, economic or other ties. No U.S. funds are given to political parties or candidates.

(1) Support for Nicaraguan Elections:

The U.S. helped Nicaragua comply with internationally recognized standards for free and fair elections in November 2006 with support for voter registration, cédula inventory and delivery, technical assistance to the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), domestic and international election observation, civic education, and voter awareness. U.S.-funded election and electoral processes activities were implemented by the following non-governmental organizations:

  • International Republican Institute (IRI)
  • National Democratic Institute (NDI)
  • International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES)
  • In addition, a direct grant to the Organization of American States supported international election observation during the November elections.

As a result of U.S. election support for the Nicaraguan elections:

  • All Supreme Electoral Council staff trained for the first time in Nicaragua’s history;
  • 37,313 poll watchers received training;
  • 420,000 new cedulas (ID documents required to vote) were distributed fueron distribuidas;
  • A new web site (http://cse.gob.ni/) had 75,000 hits, and a free 800 number provided attended to (1-800-1273) 124,000 calls;
  • New publications  such as “Paso a Paso,” on the Electoral Law, and voter verification procedures  and policies were Publisher to facilitate voting for the handicapped and elderly citizens;
  • Civic Education and Voter Awareness programs were established throughout the country (including secondary school civic education and Citizen Attention Centers in Managua, Leon, Masaya, Esteli, Granada, Chinandega, Matagalpa, and Rio Blanco);
  • Thousands of handicapped voters received assistance to exercise their right to vote;
  • The OAS was able to provide election observers and to monitor the elections throughout the country.

(2) Modernization of Nicaragua’s Judicial System:

U.S. funds have supported technical assistance and training for government institutions working on legal reforms that increase access to justice, support for the rule of law, and protection of human rights. Activities include support to the Public Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office, the Public Defenders Office, the Forensic Medicine Institute, the National Inter-Institutional Commission, the Office of Public Ethics (OEP), and the Justice Commission of the National Assembly. Results of this assistance included:

  • The successful enactment of the Criminal Procedures Code, Judicial Career Law, the Prosecutor Career Law, Law on Arbitration and Mediation, and Access to Information Law;
  • The establishment of 12 mediation centers and two commercial arbitration and mediation centers where 2000 cases have already been mediated and resolved;
  • The implementation of a nationwide law school curriculum affecting 23 Nicaraguan law schools;
  • A 500% increase in the number of Public Defenders and 36 new public defender offices;
  • A merit-based selection of prosecutors;
  • The creation and strengthening of five specialized prosecution units (organized crime, anti-corruption, environmental crimes, women and gender violence, and children and adolescents);
  • Assistance to the Public Ethics Office for the elaboration of a report on Nicaragua’s progress in implementing the recommendations of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. 

(3) Assistance to Civil Society Organizations:

U.S. funds support a wide variety of non-governmental groups that advance legal reform, promote access to information, advocate for government transparency, and increase public awareness of citizens’ rights. Democracy-building organizations that have received U.S. funding include:

Non-Governmental Organizations:

  • Ciudadanía por Transparencia en la Política
  • Asociación de Periodistas de Nicaragua (APN)
  • Unión de Periodistas de Nicaragua (UPN)
  • Organización Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Justicia (OPEJUS)
  • Red Nicaragüense para el Desarrollo Local (Red)
  • Etica y Transparencia
  • IPADE
  • FUNDEMOS
  • Violeta Chamorro Foundation
  • Hagamos Democracia
  • AMCHAM
  • CACONIC
  • Movimiento de Mujeres Cristina Rugada
  • Youth and Adolescents Rights Coalition
  • Women’s Rights Coalition
  • Indigenous Rights Coalition
  • Movimiento Poder Ciudadano
  • Solidez Foundation
  • Coordinadora Civil
  • Movimiento por Nicaragua
  • Juventud por la Democracia de Nicaragua (JUDENIC)
  • Asociación de Mujeres de Chinandega
  • Due Process Law Foundation
  • International Center for Journalists
  • Red Probidad/Nicaragua (Probidad)
  • CPDH
  • Instituto de Estudios Nicaragüenses (IEN)
  • Asociación de Auditores Internos de Nicaragua (AAIN)

Educational Institutions:

  • CONADER coalition of 23 law schools
  • The American University (UAM)
  • University of Technological Sciences (UNICIT)
  • Christian Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UCAN)
  • National Autonomous University of Nicaragua at León (UNAN-León)
  • Catholic University of Central America (UCA)
  • University of Nicaragua (UNICA)
  • National Engineering University (UNI)
  • Universidad del Valle (UNIVALLE)
  • Politechnical University (UPOLI)

 

The U.S. government is committed to continuing its support for strengthening democracy in Nicaragua.
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