Following a series of diplomatic catastrophes and human rights violations in the country, Nicaragua has left the Organization of American States on November 19th. Unlike Brexit, where the decision to leave the EU was based on the famous 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Nicaragua's actions were taken in a very different context.
That is, the communication of its exit from the OAS took place in 2021 in direct response to the organization's claims of violations of the Inter-American Democratic Charter during the country's last presidential elections. However, according to Article 143 of the Charter of the Organization of the American States, its provisions still apply to the leaving State for a period of 2 years after the envoy of a notice of denunciation.
Nicaragua, governed by Daniel Ortega since 2007, has long been on the lookout of third countries and entities, due to, between other issues, its undermining of democracy and freedom of speech. For example, according to the Human Rights Watch World Report published in 2023, Ortega's regime is responsible for the persecution and imprisonment of many members of its opposition and the press. Regarding the European Union, the latter has imposed sanctions against 21 Nicaraguan persons and three entities, in response to the expulsion of the Head of the EU Delegation from its territory, and the cut of diplomatic relations with the Netherlands. The sanctions were first introduced in October 2019 and remained valid until October 15, 2023.
Many OAS states have voiced their concerns over the exit. According to El País, Uruguay's permanent representative, Washington Abdalá, has stated that Nicaragua's exit does not mean that it will be "simple", in the sense that human rights could now be freely disregarded in the country. This is especially true considering that several international treaties regarding the protection of human rights are consecrated on Article 46 of Nicaragua's Constitution, including the American Convention on Human Rights. The Permanent Council of the OAS has also published online its "Measures consequent to the denunciation of the Charter of the Organization of American States by the Republic of Nicaragua", where it reaffirms that Nicaragua is still bound to international human rights conventions, and that the Council will "continue to pay special attention" to the country's situation.
