’WPCg ‚šqØõĻĮ2׿c€t²9ó€m‰ˆ_ł£Sģ,ī.UŚCO‹]Ćt?HĮ¤™ÆĶŲØx÷PBØļŶü?©`·¢U#A” łH¾X»¼hąI#ŌŠ ° Šņ ņÓ  ÓŌ% € ŌĢĢŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€A/36/18€(1981)ó óŠ •å ŠĢĢ123.€€The€initial€report€of€Nicaragua€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/45/Add.3)€was€considered€by€the€Committee€togetherŠ Q ” Šwith€the€introductory€statement€made€by€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State,€whichŠ : Š Šsupplemented€the€information€given€in€the€report.Š # s ŠĢ124.€€The€representative€pointed€out€that€international€conventions€became€part€of€nationalŠ õ E  Šlegislation€of€Nicaragua€as€soon€as€they€had€been€ratified€and€the€relevant€decrees€had€beenŠ Ž.  Špublished€in€the€Official€Journal,€and€that€his€country€maintained€no€relations€with€racist€regimes.Š Ē  ŠHe€referred€to€various€provisions€of€Nicaraguaššs€Penal€Code,€providing€serious€penalties€for€actsŠ °  Šof€discrimination.€€Nicaragua€also€had€laws€protecting€migrant€workers,€preventing€discriminationŠ ™é  Šagainst€aliens€and€guaranteeing€every€person€access€to€courts€free€of€charge.€In€its€reports,€theŠ ‚Ņ  ŠGovernment€of€Nicaragua€had€reproduced€the€basic€domestic€laws€concerning€prevention€of€racialŠ k» Šdiscrimination€and€the€promotion€of€equality€and€rights€of€all€Nicaraguans,€including€nationalŠ T¤ Šminorities.€Lastly,€the€representative€stated€that€his€Government€was€in€the€process€of€elaboratingŠ = Šlegal€provisions€required€by€the€Convention,€and€assured€the€Committee€that€there€was€in€practiceŠ &v Šno€discrimination€of€any€kind€in€Nicaragua€at€the€present€time€and,€if€such€cases€arose,€theŠ _ ŠGovernment€would€be€dealing€with€them€on€the€basis€either€of€specific€legal€provisions,€or€ofŠ ųH Šgeneral€provisions,€of€domestic€law.Š į1 ŠĢ125.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€the€seriousness€of€the€approach€of€Nicaraguan€GovernmentŠ ³ Što€the€need€for€the€establishment€of€a€dialogue€with€the€Committee.€Despite€the€complicatedŠ œģ Šdomestic€situation,€the€report€was€considered€to€be€informative.€It€was€stressed€however€thatŠ …Õ ŠNicaragua€had€not€yet€implemented€all€the€provisions€of€the€Convention,€and€the€hope€wasŠ n¾ Šexpressed€that€the€results€of€relevant€efforts€would€be€seen€in€the€next€report.€In€particular,€questionsŠ W§ Šwere€asked€on€the€progress€made€in€the€preparation€of€a€preliminary€draft€political€constitution€andŠ @ Ša€draft€electoral€law,€as€well€as,€in€particular,€acts€and€regulations€to€implement€the€principles€setŠ ) y Šforth€in€the€basic€law.€Attention€was€drawn€to€article€22€of€the€Fundamental€Statute€which€outlinedŠ !b Ša€legislative€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō,€and€it€was€asked€whether€there€were€any€drafts€of€the€laws€referred€to.€ItŠ ū!K  Šwas€pointed€out€that€article€49€of€the€Fundamental€Statute,€which€dealt€with€emergency€situations,Š ä"4! Šdid€not€contain€the€proviso€set€out€in€article€4€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalŠ Ķ#" ŠRights€that€emergency€measures€must€not€involve€discrimination€solely€on€the€ground€of€race,Š ¶$ # ŠŌ_ŌcolourŌ_Ō,€sex,€language,€religion€or€social€origin.Š Ÿ%ļ $ ŠĢ126.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€steps€should€be€taken€to€prohibit€ņņapartheidóó€by€law€in€accordance€withŠ q'Į"& Šarticle€3€of€the€Convention.Š Z(Ŗ#' ŠĢ127.€€Attention€was€drawn€to€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.€Noting€that€not€all€theŠ ,*|%) Šprovisions€of€article€4€were€covered€in€domestic€laws,€the€Committee€expressed€the€hope€thatŠ +e&* Šspecific€action€would€be€taken€to€remedy€the€situation€when€further€legislation€was€enacted.Š ž+N'+ ŠĢŠ Š- )- ŠŌ_Ō128.€€In€connection€with€article€5€of€the€Convention,€while€it€was€noted€that€Nicaragua€was€doingŠ ° Šits€utmost€to€comply€with€the€Convention€pending€the€promulgation€of€its€new€Constitution,Š ™é Šadditional€information€concerning€the€implementation€of€that€article€was€requested€in€the€light€ofŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€new€political€order€which€the€Government€was€going€to€introduce.€In€particular,€information€wasŠ k» Šrequested€on€the€holding€of€national€elections€and€on€the€status€of€various€political€parties€andŠ T¤ Šgroups.€A€question€was€asked€as€to€how€it€was€possible€to€exercise€the€right€to€organize€or€to€formŠ =  Špolitical€parties,€provided€for€in€article€25€(a)€of€the€Statute€on€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€ofŠ & v ŠNicaraguans,€when€the€composition€of€the€Government€Junta€and€the€Council€of€State€was€alreadyŠ  _ Šlaid€down€in€a€Statute.€An€explanation€was€requested€as€to€why€Ō_ŌMisurasataŌ_Ō€(Association€of€Indians)Š ų H Šhad€only€one€member€in€the€Council€of€State€out€of€a€total€of€47,€although€the€Indians€representedŠ į 1  Š5€per€cent€of€the€population.€While€welcoming€the€elimination€of€discrimination€in€trade€unionŠ Ź   Šmatters,€members€requested€clarification€on€the€position€of€the€trade€unions€(especially€those€ofŠ ³  Šmedia€personnel),€whether€the€media€union€would€follow€official€guidance€or€act€independently€andŠ œģ  Šif€there€existed€one€single€comprehensive€trade€union€in€the€country€while,€as€it€is€known,€theŠ …Õ  ŠGovernment€organized€Sandinista€trade€unions.€A€hope€was€expressed€that€the€law€on€trade€unionsŠ n¾  Šwould€meet€the€requirements€of€the€relevant€ILO€Convention.€€Appreciating€the€efforts€made€byŠ W§  ŠNicaragua€to€improve€the€lot€of€minority€ethnic€groups,€additional€information€was€asked€for€in€theŠ @ Šnext€report€on€practical€results€in€this€field€especially€concerning€the€activity€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€andŠ )y Šresources€of€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€the€Atlantic€Coast.€It€was€also€asked€how€the€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_ŌŠ b Šof€Literacy€Year€had€been€carried€out€on€the€Atlantic€Coast€were€the€majority€of€Indians€lived,€inŠ ūK Šparticular€whether€the€authorities€had€tried€to€impose€the€Spanish€language€upon€the€Indians€orŠ ä4 Šwhether€they€had€found€a€way€of€introducing€literacy€to€them€in€their€own€language.Š Ķ ŠĢ129.€€With€reference€to€articles€5(b)€and€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€pointed€out€that€certain€stepsŠ Ÿļ Šwere€to€be€taken€to€further€implement€these€articles.€Concern€was€expressed€about€the€press€reportŠ ˆŲ Šon€the€arrest€of€certain€Ō_ŌSteadmanŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌFagothŌ_Ō,€the€Ō_ŌMisurasataŌ_Ō€representative€in€the€Council€of€State.€TheŠ qĮ Šrepresentative€of€Nicaragua€was€requested€to€inform€the€Committee€whether€this€had€been€done€inŠ ZŖ Šaccordance€with€article€8€of€the€Statute€on€Rights€and€Guarantees.€An€inquiry€was€made€concerningŠ C“ Šarticle€8,€of€the€State€as€to€what€authorities€other€than€judges€were€empowered€to€issue€an€arrestŠ ,| Šwarrant.€Clarification€was€sought€on€the€details€of€legal€procedure,€the€Penal€Code€and€detentionŠ e Šbefore€trial.€Information€was€also€requested€on€any€review€that€might€be€undertaken€of€the€existingŠ žN ŠPenal€Code€to€reflect€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.Š ē 7 ŠĢ130.€€The€importance€was€stressed€of€including€in€the€next€report€information€on€activitiesŠ ¹" ! Šundertaken€to€implement€article€7€of€the€Convention.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ131.€€Replying€to€the€questions€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€pointed€out€thatŠ t%Ä $ Šbecause€of€the€difficult€transitional€period€which€the€country€was€still€in,€priority€had€been€given€toŠ ]&­!% Šeliminating€the€evils€inherited€from€the€Somoza€dictatorship€and€to€drawing€up€of€a€series€of€legalŠ F'–"& Šprovisions€in€line€with€the€wishes€of€the€people.€The€year€1985€had€been€established€as€the€deadlineŠ /(#' Šfor€governmental€elections€and€the€establishment€of€a€parliament€or€congress€which€would€replaceŠ )h$( Šthe€present€Council€of€State,€exercising€executive€power.Š *Q%) ŠĢ132.€€As€far€as€the€trade€unions€were€concerned,€the€representative€stated€that€it€was€intended€toŠ Ó+#'+ Šestablish€press€associations€and€a€trade€union€federation,€but€none€of€those€bodies€would€be€requiredŠ ¼, (, Što€follow€predetermined€rules.Š „-õ(- Š‡133.€Referring€to€the€ethnic€groups,€the€representative€stated€that,€in€order€to€implement€theŠ ° Šfundamental€statute€various€matters€were€being€regulated€by€individual€acts,€such€as€those€dealingŠ ™é Šwith€minorities,€education€in€local€languages,€etc.€A€literacy€campaign€had€been€launched€on€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠAtlantic€Coast€in€order€to€maintain€the€ethnic€culture€while€integrating€minorities€into€the€life€of€theŠ k» Šwhole€country.€Referring€to€the€arrest€of€the€representative€of€an€ethnic€minority€in€the€AtlanticŠ T¤ ŠRegion,€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€informed€the€Committee€that€the€arrested€person,€as€it€hadŠ =  Šbecome€known€from€Somoza€archives,€had€been€a€supporter€of€the€dictatorship.Š  & v Šņ ņŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€A/38/18€Ō_Ō(1983)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ455.€€The€second€and€third€periodic€reports€of€Nicaragua€submitted€in€one€documentŠ l¼ Š(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/103/Add.1€and€Corr.1)€were€considered€by€the€Committee€together€with€the€introductoryŠ U„ Šstatement€of€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State,€who€referred€in€general,€to€the€demographicŠ > Ž Šcomposition€of€the€country€and€to€the€policy€of€his€Government€directed€to€the€integration€of€allŠ ' w Šgroups€of€the€population€into€the€countryššs€development€process.€He€also€stated€that€Nicaragua€hadŠ  ` Šbeen€living€in€a€state€of€war€since€the€promulgation€of€the€Emergency€Law€of€15€March€1982,€andŠ ł I Šthat€because€of€the€countryššs€popular€and€democratic€political€ideas,€efforts€had€been€made€in€theŠ ā 2  Šlegal€and€juridical€spheres€to€eliminate€all€forms€€of€racism€and€discrimination.Š Ė   ŠĢ456.€€Members€of€the€Committee€commended€the€Government€of€Nicaragua€for€its€report,€whichŠ ķ  Šwas€prepared€in€accordance€with€the€guidelines€set€by€the€Committee.€They€noted€with€appreciationŠ †Ö  Šthe€frankness€of€the€report€which€drew€attention€to€major€problems€facing€the€NicaraguanŠ oæ  ŠGovernment€and€to€steps€which€had€been€taken€with€respect€to€all€strata€of€society.€Some€membersŠ XØ  Špointed€out€also€that€Nicaragua€had€made€an€earnest€attempt€to€share€its€experience€with€regard€toŠ A‘ Šthe€implementation€of€the€Convention,€despite€the€emergency€situation€which€existed€in€the€country,Š *z Šand€that€account€must€be€taken€of€the€fact€that€Nicaragua€was€the€victim€of€external€interference€inŠ c Šviolation€of€the€United€Nations€Charter.€Furthermore,€it€was€noted€that€the€four€years€which€hadŠ üL Špassed€since€the€Nicaraguan€revolution€was€too€short€a€time€in€which€to€remove€the€social€injusticeŠ å5 Šimposed€by€the€Somoza€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€that€had€been€in€power€for€over€50€years.Š Ī ŠĢ457.€€Much€of€the€discussion€revolved€around€the€Governmentššs€policy€and€practical€measuresŠ  š Šrelevant€to€the€implementation€of€article€1,€paragraph€4,€article€2,€paragraph€2,€and€article€5€of€theŠ ‰Ł ŠConvention€dealing€with€the€actual€situation€and€rights€of€the€various€ethnic€groups€in€the€country.Š rĀ ŠThe€Committee€welcomed€the€progress€made€by€Nicaragua€in€preparing€the€preliminary€draftŠ [« Šconstitution€and€electoral€law,€€for€its€efforts€to€introduce€land€reform€and€for€its€success€in€the€fieldsŠ D” Šof€education€and€literacy,€which€had€won€the€recognition€of€UNESCO.Š -} ŠĢ458.€€Turning€to€the€conditions€of€the€indigenous€communities€in€Nicaragua,€members€of€theŠ ’O ŠCommittee€wished€to€know€what€the€current€status€of€the€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€community€on€the€Pacific€andŠ č 8 ŠAtlantic€Coasts€was;€€why€it€had€been€moved€from€its€settlement€on€the€banks€of€the€River€Coco;Š Ń!!  Šwhether€the€relocated€community€was€entitled€to€acquire€the€land€under€the€new€scheme€in€questionŠ ŗ" ! Šand,€if€so,€whether€it€was€receiving€its€fair€share€of€the€land;€whether€the€redistribution€of€land€wasŠ £#ó" Šunder€the€jurisdiction€of€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€the€Atlantic€Coast€or€a€higher€authority;Š Œ$Ü# Šwhether€land€was€being€distributed€solely€to€Indians€or€to€all€other€ethnic€groups€as€well;€whetherŠ u%Å $ Šany€grievances€had€been€lodged€regarding€the€redistribution€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€by€individuals€or€by€theŠ ^&®!% ŠŌ_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€community€as€a€whole€and€whether€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō€were€represented€on€the€monitoring€body€andŠ G'—"& Šin€the€Institute€itself.€Further€details€were€asked€for€on€the€general€policy€of€the€GovernmentŠ 0(€#' Šconcerning€integration,€and€on€what€measures€were€being€taken€to€preserve€and€protect€indigenousŠ )i$( Šcommunities€and€to€guarantee€their€autonomous€existence€so€that€they€did€not€lose€their€distinctŠ *R%) Šculture,€languages€and€traditions.€Some€members€also€wished€to€know€whether€any€applications€forŠ ė*;&* ŠņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€had€been€made€by€the€Atlantic€Coast€Indians€and,€if€so,€what€had€been€the€outcome.Š Ō+$'+ ŠFurthermore,€it€was€asked€whether€other€measures,€such€as€mining€and€industrial€projects€wereŠ ½, (, Šenvisaged€in€order€to€enhance€€the€economic€status€of€the€indigenous€population€and€what€was€beingŠ ¦-ö(- Šdone€in€practice€to€ensure€that€the€indigenous€population€derived€benefits€from€the€exploitation€ofŠ ° Šthe€natural€resources€in€the€areas€where€they€lived.€The€hope€was€expressed€that€the€next€periodicŠ ™é Šreport€of€Nicaragua€would€provide€additional€information€regarding€the€work€of€the€SpecialŠ ‚Ņ ŠCommission€of€the€Council€of€State€and€a€breakdown€of€demographic€data,€including€informationŠ k» Šabout€all€the€Indian€groups€of€the€country.Š T¤ ŠĢ459.€With€respect€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€remarked€that€the€crime€of€genocideŠ & v Šwas€defined€in€positive€law,€which€went€a€long€way€towards€preventing€maltreatment€andŠ  _ Špersecution€of€indigenous€peoples.€However,€some€members€expressed€the€opinion€that€the€legalŠ ų H Šprovisions€referred€to€in€the€report€failed€to€give€full€effect€to€the€requirements€of€that€article€and€thatŠ į 1  Šthe€provisions€of€the€Statute€of€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€of€Nicaraguans€were€not€consistent€withŠ Ź   Šparagraphs€(a),€(b)€and€(c)€of€article€4.€Further€clarification€was€requested€in€that€regard.Š ³  ŠĢ460.€€Referring€to€other€information€provided€on€the€implementation€of€article€5€of€the€Convention,Š …Õ  Šsome€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€they€had€no€doubts€regarding€the€sincerity€of€theŠ n¾  ŠNicaraguan€Government€in€trying€to€improve€the€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€position€of€the€people€in€the€mostŠ W§  Šneglected€areas€of€the€country€and€that€very€progressive€steps€were€being€taken€in€that€respect.Š @ ŠReferring€to€the€statement€€in€the€report€that€one€section€of€the€countryššs€population€was€resettled,Š )y Šit€was€pointed€out€that€the€Committee€was€duty„bound€to€consider€whether€racial€discrimination€orŠ b Šrestriction€on€the€right€of€freedom€of€movement€€were€involved,€and€the€fact€that€such€an€explanationŠ ūK Šwas€requested€did€not€mean€that€the€Committee€wished€to€destabilize€the€revolutionary€process€inŠ ä4 ŠNicaragua.€It€was€also€asked€whether€the€resettlement€had€been€carried€out€in€consultation€with€theŠ Ķ Špeople€or€one€of€their€organizations€in€view€of€the€fact€that€forced€displacements€of€civilians€toŠ ¶ Šanother€territory€was€not€allowed€by€the€rules€of€armed€conflicts€(see€art.€17,€Additional€ProtocolŠ Ÿļ ŠII,€1977).€€As€regards€the€rights€to€participate€in€elections,€some€members€wished€to€know€how€andŠ ˆŲ Šaccording€to€what€rules€elections€to€municipal€councils€had€been€organized€in€Nicaragua€andŠ qĮ Šwhether€the€ballot€had€been€secret.€As€to€the€right€to€freedom€of€assembly€and€association,€moreŠ ZŖ Šdetails€were€requested€regarding€the€policy€regulations€governing€the€right€to€demonstrateŠ C“ Špublically.€Further€questions€were€raised€concerning€ņņinter€aliaóó€the€rights€to€nationality,€to€freedomŠ ,| Šof€religion€and€opinion€as€well€as€to€the€right€to€public€health.Š e ŠĢ461.€With€reference€to€article€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€Nicaragua€had€provided€in€itsŠ ē 7 Šrevised€penal€procedure€further€guarantees€of€fair€trials€for€detainees,€which€showed€theŠ Š!   ŠGovernmentššs€sincerity€in€adhering€as€closely€as€possible€to€the€provisions€of€that€article€of€theŠ ¹" ! ŠConvention.€The€hope€was€expressed€that€additional€progress€in€the€legislative€field€would€beŠ ¢#ņ" Šdescribed€in€the€next€periodic€report€of€Nicaragua.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ462.€€The€representative€of€the€reporting€State€replied€to€some€questions€raised€by€the€Committee.Š ]&­!% ŠReferring€to€the€status€of€the€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€community,€he€stated€that€the€Government€had€invited€theŠ F'–"& ŠInter„American€Commission€on€Human€Rights€to€visit€the€country€to€make€an€on„the„spotŠ /(#' Šinvestigation€into€the€situation€of€the€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō.€The€visiting€mission€had€conducted€its€investigationŠ )h$( Šin€May€1982€and€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€access€to€a€wide€range€of€individuals€and€organizations€concerned€withŠ *Q%) Šthe€matter.€The€recommendations€of€the€Commission€were€accepted€by€the€Government€with€the€aimŠ ź*:&* Šof€reaching€a€solution€to€the€problem,€which€could€entail€the€relocation€to€new€settlements€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Š8,5000€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō€who€had€been€moved€from€their€homes.€The€Government€had€given€an€undertakingŠ ¼, (, Šin€writing€to€the€Inter„American€Commission€to€allow€those€who€wished€to€do€so€to€return€to€theirŠ „-õ(- Šhomes€when€the€emergency€ceased€and€when€the€state€of€war€no€longer€existed.Š ° ŠĢ463.€€With€regard€to€statistics€regarding€the€composition€of€the€population,€he€said€that€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠGovernment€was€not€in€a€position€to€provide€such€information€at€the€current€time,€but€it€wouldŠ k» ŠŌ_ŌendeavourŌ_Ō€to€respond€fully€to€all€the€comments€and€questions€of€members€in€its€next€report.€WithŠ T¤ Šrespect€to€the€elections,€he€explained€that€the€country€was€in€the€process€of€creating€new€institutionsŠ =  Šand€that€a€draft€electoral€law€€was€expected€to€be€adopted€by€the€end€of€1983€and€elections€shouldŠ & v Štherefore€be€held€in€1984.Š  _ ŠĢ464.€€In€conclusion,€the€representative€stated€that€only€four€years€after€the€revolution€NicaraguaŠ į 1  Šcould€boast€of€having€ratified€most€of€the€international€legal€instruments€for€the€protection€of€humanŠ Ź   Šrights,€of€having€received€three€visiting€missions€of€the€Inter„American€Commission€on€HumanŠ ³  ŠRights€at€its€own€request€and€of€having€an€active€national€human€rights€commission.Š  œģ  ŠŃe°Ńņ ņŃ€OaŃŃ€ļOŃŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€A/43/18€(1988)Š ° ŠĢó óĢ80.€€The€Committee€considered€the€fourth€periodic€report€of€Nicaragua€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/128/Add.1)€at€itsŠ m½ Š818ņņthóó€meeting,€held€on€3€August€1988€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/SR.818).Š V¦ ŠĢ81.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€indicated€thatŠ ( x ŠNicaraguaššs€new€political€Constitution€had€entered€into€force€on€9€January€1987.€€She€highlightedŠ  a Švarious€provisions€designed€particularly€to€preserve€peace€and€to€institute€a€more€equitableŠ ś J Šinternational€order.€In€addition,€for€the€first€time€in€its€history,€the€countryššs€multi„ethnic€characterŠ ć 3  Šwas€recognized.€Furthermore,€the€languages€of€the€indigenous€peoples€and€communities€of€theŠ Ģ   ŠAtlantic€coast€were€recognized€as€national€languages,€the€equality€€of€all€citizens€before€the€law€wasŠ µ  Šguaranteed,€and€slavery€and€all€forms€of€discrimination€were€prohibited€in€accordance€with€the€rulesŠ žī  Šof€international€law€which€the€Government€had€undertaken€to€respect.Š ‡×  ŠĢ82.€€The€representative€pointed€out€that€the€dialogue€between€the€indigenous€peoples€and€theŠ Y©  ŠGovernment,€€which€had€been€initiated€as€soon€as€work€on€the€Constitution€had€begun,€had€beenŠ B’ Šcontinued€and€had€made€it€possible€to€solve€a€large€number€of€problems.€Thus,€more€than€400Š +{ Šrepresentatives€of€different€ethnic€groups€had€approved€the€latest€version€of€an€autonomy€bill,€whichŠ d Šwas€subsequently€to€be€adopted€by€the€National€Assembly€on€2€September€1987€and€whichŠ żM Šconstituted€the€legal€and€political€framework€for€the€practical€implementation€of€the€provisions€ofŠ ę6 Šthe€international€instruments€relevant€to€the€struggle€against€racial€discrimination.€Furthermore,€theŠ Ļ ŠNational€Assembly€was€in€the€process€of€considering€an€electoral€bill€which€gave€the€indigenousŠ ø Špeoples€real€equality€in€the€exercise€of€their€political€rights€and€enabled€them€to€elect€theirŠ ”ń Šrepresentatives€to€an€autonomous€regional€government.€In€addition,€18€cease„fire€agreements€hadŠ ŠŚ Šbeen€concluded€with€several€armed€indigenous€groups,€as€the€Secretary„General€of€the€OrganizationŠ sĆ Šof€American€States€had€been€able€to€verify€on€17€May€1988.€In€addition,€since€1985€almost€26,000Š \¬ Šindigenous€persons€had€been€voluntary€repatriated€with€the€collaboration€of€the€Office€of€the€UnitedŠ E• ŠNations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€and€under€the€observation€of€a€Commission€of€theŠ .~ ŠEuropean€Parliament€which€had€visited€the€country€in€April€1988.Š g ŠĢ83.€Lastly,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stressed€the€difficulties€caused€by€the€war€ofŠ é 9 Šaggression€being€waged€against€her€country,€which€caused€victims€among€the€civilian€populationŠ Ņ!"  Ševery€day€and€which€constituted€an€obstacle€to€respect€for€human€rights.€In€such€circumstances,€itŠ »" ! Šwas€extremely€difficult€to€ensure€respect€for€the€economic€rights€of€the€population.Š ¤#ō" ŠĢ84.€Members€of€the€Committee€congratulated€the€Government€of€Nicaragua€on€its€excellent€report,Š v%Ę $ Šwhich€had€been€drawn€up€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€guidelines€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/70/Rev.1),€andŠ _&Æ!% Šthanked€its€representative€for€a€very€useful€and€comprehensive€updating.€In€particular,€they€notedŠ H'˜"& Šthat€the€Government€had€not€hesitated€to€mention€in€its€report€the€factors€and€difficulties€whichŠ 1(#' Šaffected€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€and€had€Ō_ŌendeavouredŌ_Ō€to€reply€to€the€many€questionsŠ )j$( Šthat€had€been€asked€during€the€consideration€of€its€previous€report.€Members€also€stressed€the€realŠ *S%) Šprogress€that€had€been€made€in€finding€solutions€to€the€problem€of€racial€discrimination,€despite€theŠ ģ*<&* Šdifficulties€situation€which€prevailed€in€the€country.€In€that€connection,€it€was€asked€whether€theŠ Õ+%'+ Šimplementation€of€certain€articles€of€the€Constitution€was€still€suspended€and€whether€some€of€theŠ ¾,(, Šethnic€groups€mentioned€in€the€report€were€taking€part€in€the€conflict.€It€was€noted€with€satisfactionŠ §-÷(- ŠŃOaŃā āŃ°eŃā āŃ  Ńthat€the€Convention,€as€well€as€other€rules€of€international€law,€had€been€directly€incorporated€inŠ ° Šnational€legislation.Š ™é ŠĢ85.€€With€regard€to€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€the€adoption,€inŠ k» ŠSeptember€1987,€of€the€Indigenous€People€Autonomy€Act€and€welcomed€a€number€of€its€provisionsŠ T¤ Šrelating,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€to€the€administration€of€public€affairs,€respect€for€the€property€rights€ofŠ =  Šindigenous€peoples,€and€the€study€of€languages.€Nevertheless,€further€information€was€requested€onŠ & v Šthe€limits€and€scope€of€the€autonomy€granted,€the€effects€of€the€current€negotiations€with€variousŠ  _ Šethnic€groups€on€the€implementation€of€the€Act,€the€reasons€why€the€Atlantic€coast€region€had€beenŠ ų H Šdivided€into€two€zones,€the€composition€of€the€ministerial€delegations€in€those€two€zones,€and€theŠ į 1  Šprinciples€of€the€Sandinista€Revolution€that€were€applicable€to€the€indigenous€peoples.Š Ź   ŠĢ86.€€Members€of€the€Committee€stressed€the€exemplary€nature€of€the€measures€taken€by€NicaraguaŠ œģ  Što€implement€article€3€of€the€Convention.Š …Õ  ŠĢ87.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€view€was€expressed€that€the€article€was€not€beingŠ W§  Šfully€applied€in€Nicaragua€and€further€information€was€requested€in€that€connection.€Nevertheless,Š @ Šit€was€noted€with€satisfaction€that€the€crime€of€genocide€was€punishable€under€the€Penal€Code.Š )y ŠĢ88.€€As€far€as€article€5€of€the€Convention€was€concerned,€further€information€was€requested€aboutŠ ūK Šthe€participation€of€the€various€indigenous€groups€in€the€elections€scheduled€for€1988€and€withŠ ä4 Šregard€to€freedom€of€movement€inside€Nicaragua€and€freedom€to€return€to€it.€€In€that€connection,Š Ķ Šfurther€information€was€requested€concerning€the€possibility€of€extending€the€Amnesty€ActŠ ¶ Šmentioned€in€the€report€and€repatriation€of€Ō_ŌMesquitoŌ_Ō€refugees€in€Honduras.€With€reference€to€theŠ Ÿļ Šright€of€everyone€to€own€property,€it€was€asked€what€total€area€of€the€land€was€held€or€traditionallyŠ ˆŲ Šoccupied€by€the€indigenous€peoples€and€communities€of€the€Atlantic€coast,€what€their€position€wasŠ qĮ Šwith€regard€to€the€right€to€own€land€and€to€benefit€from€the€industrial€exploitation€of€the€region€andŠ ZŖ Šits€forestry€resources,€and€whether€the€Government€was€considering€the€institution€of€a€mixedŠ C“ Šeconomy€in€the€country.€In€addition,€details€were€requested€on€the€situation€of€the€Ō_ŌMoravianŌ_Ō€ChurchŠ ,| Šand€on€the€restrictions€on€freedom€of€opinion€and€expression€and€freedom€of€association.Š e ŠĢ89.€€Additional€information€was€requested€on€the€implementation€of€article€6€of€the€Convention.€InŠ ē 7 Šparticular,€details€were€asked€about€the€kinds€of€violations€that€were€punishable,€the€complaintsŠ Š!   Šrecorded€and€the€decisions€handed€down€by€the€courts.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ90.€€On€the€subject€of€article€7€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€the€Government€had€adoptedŠ ‹$Ū# Šmeasures€to€organize€literacy€campaigns€and€it€was€asked€whether€any€training€to€promote€humanŠ t%Ä $ Šrights€and€combat€racial€discrimination€had€been€introduced,€especially€in€schools€and€universitiesŠ ]&­!% Šand€for€members€of€the€police,€the€civil€service€and€the€armed€forces.Š F'–"& ŠĢ91.€€In€response€to€various€questions€about€the€Indigenous€Peoples€Autonomy€Act,€the€representativeŠ )h$( Šof€the€State€party€said€that€the€purpose€of€the€peopleššs€revolution€had,€in€particular,€been€to€takeŠ *Q%) Šaction€for€the€benefit€of€the€indigenous€peoples.€However,€for€various€reasons,€especially€historicalŠ ź*:&* Šreasons,€the€relationship€between€the€central€authorities€and€the€Atlantic€coast€indigenousŠ Ó+#'+ Šcommunities€was€one€of€mistrust.€The€Autonomy€Act€had€recognized€the€rights€and€duties€of€thoseŠ ¼, (, Špeoples€and€in€that€connection€she€drew€attention€to€some€of€its€provisions€concerning,€ņņinter€aliaóó,Š „-õ(- ŠŃļO Ńā āŃe°Ńā āŃ  Ńthe€right€to€own€property.€She€added€that€although€it€had€previously€constituted€a€singleŠ e Šadministrative€entity€the€Atlantic€coast€had€temporarily€been€divided€into€two€zones,€as€a€result€ofŠ Né Šthe€very€great€difficulties€of€communication€between€the€north€and€the€south€of€the€region.Š 7Ņ ŠĢ92.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€in€connection€with€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€representativeŠ  ¤ Šof€Nicaragua€said€that€there€were€14€political€parties€in€her€country,€7€of€which€were€represented€inŠ ņ Šthe€National€Assembly.€Most€of€the€indigenous€groups€which€had€taken€up€arms€had€signed€theŠ Ū v Špeace€accords€providing€for€the€cease„fire€and€the€amnesty€law€had€been€extended€until€July€1987,Š Ä _ Šthe€date€of€entry€into€force€of€Esquipulas€II€Agreement.€On€the€right€to€own€property,€she€explainedŠ ­ H Šthat€the€State€recognized€the€right€of€the€Atlantic€coast€communities€to€use€their€lands€and€theirŠ – 1  Šnatural€resources,€but€that€those€populations€did€not€recognize€the€concept€of€private€property.€TheŠ    ŠConstitution€also€guaranteed€a€mixed€economy€and€recognized€the€existence€of€various€forms€ofŠ h  Šlandownership,€all€of€which€served€the€higher€interests€of€the€nation.Š Qģ  ŠĢ93.€€Referring€to€other€rights€recognized€in€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€drewŠ #¾  Šattention€to€the€constitutional€provisions€guaranteeing€freedom€of€religion,€opinion,€expression€andŠ  §  Šassociation.€Ō_ŌMoravianŌ_Ō€Church€ministers€were€not€prevented€from€using€English€in€their€preachingŠ õ Šand€the€activity€of€religious€groups€on€the€Atlantic€coast€was€flourishing,€as€was€attested€by€theŠ Žy Šrecent€translation€of€the€Bible€into€the€Sumo€language.€Workers€and€members€of€religious€groupsŠ Ēb Šalike€had€the€right,€without€any€discrimination,€to€form€associations.€Freedom€of€the€press€wasŠ °K Šguaranteed€and,€since€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Esquipulas€II€Agreement,€all€censorship€had€beenŠ ™4 Šremoved.Š ‚ ŠĢ94.€€Replying€to€he€questions€asked€about€article€7€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€said€thatŠ Tļ Šthe€cultural€identity€of€indigenous€peoples€was€fully€recognized€and€that€they€had€the€right€to€useŠ =Ų Štheir€own€languages€in€all€every€day€activities.€Primary€education€was€provided€in€the€pupilsšš€motherŠ &Į Štongue€and€a€bilingual€education€body€existed€in€each€of€the€Atlantic€coast€zones.€ConsiderableŠ Ŗ Šefforts€had€also€been€undertaken€to€produce€educational€radio€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€for€the€benefit€of€theŠ ų“ Šindigenous€groups,€and€a€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€for€the€teaching€of€law€had€been€launched€for€members€of€theŠ į| Špolice€force,€the€armed€forces€and€the€civil€service.€Seminars€on€the€rights€of€indigenous€peoplesŠ Źe Šwere€also€organized€on€a€regular€basis.€She€drew€attention,€however,€to€the€practical€difficulties€ofŠ ³N Šstimulating€an€awareness€among€the€majority€population€of€human€rights€and€the€rights€ofŠ œ 7 Šindigenous€groups.Š  …!   Šņ ņŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€A/50/18€Ō_Ō(1995)ó óŌ_ŌŠ e ŠĢĢ499.€€The€fifth,€sixth,€seventh,€eighth€and€ninth€periodic€reports€of€Nicaragua,€submitted€in€oneŠ !¼ Šdocument€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/277/Add.1),€were€considered€by€the€Committee€at€its€1110ņņthóó€and€1111ņņthóóŠ  „ Šmeetings,€held€on€7€and€8€August€1995€(see€Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/SR.1110€and€1111).Š óŽ ŠĢ500.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€referred€to€the€tragicŠ Å ` Ševents€that€had€affected€his€country,€in€particular€the€political€struggles€that€had€given€rise€to€civilŠ ® I Šwars€and€dictatorships.€With€the€election€in€1990€of€Mrs.€Chamorro,€the€candidate€of€a€coalition€ofŠ — 2  Š14€political€parties,€Nicaragua€had€embarked€on€a€process€of€transition€towards€economic€and€socialŠ €   Šreconstruction,€strengthening€of€democracy€and€national€reconciliation.€To€that€end,€the€mainŠ i  ŠŌ_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€being€implemented€by€the€authorities€related€to€combating€poverty,€decentralizationŠ Rķ  Šand€encouraging€the€establishment€of€small-€and€medium-sized€businesses.€The€process€was€fraughtŠ ;Ö  Šwith€difficulties,€however,€due€to€the€country's€poor€economic€and€social€situation,€with€the€highestŠ $æ  Šrate€of€external€indebtedness€in€the€world,€a€very€low€Ō_ŌGDPŌ_Ō€and€a€very€high€birth€rate€(3.7€per€cent).Š  Ø  ŠĢ501.€€Article€5€of€the€1987€Constitution,€amended€in€1995,€enshrined€the€principle€of€political,€socialŠ ßz Šand€ethnic€pluralism,€by€recognizing€for€the€first€time€the€existence€of€indigenous€populations€whoŠ Čc Šthus€enjoyed€constitutional€rights€and€guarantees,€in€particular€the€right€to€preserve€their€identity€andŠ ±L Štheir€culture,€to€adopt€their€own€social€structure€and€administer€their€local€affairs€and€to€maintainŠ š5 Šcommunity€forms€of€land€ownership,€enjoyment€and€use.€Article€121€of€the€Constitution€stipulatedŠ ƒ Šthat€the€indigenous€populations€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€regions€were€entitled€to€a€Ō_ŌmulticulturalŌ_ŌŠ l Šeducation€in€their€region.€Most€of€the€ethnic€groups€in€Nicaragua€lived€in€the€two€Atlantic€CoastŠ Uš Šregions€and€were€composed€chiefly€of€mestizos,€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō,€Creoles,€Sumus€and€Ramas.€ThoseŠ >Ł Šregions€were€the€least€densely€populated€in€the€country,€with€a€population€that€was€35€per€cent€urbanŠ 'Ā Šand€40€per€cent€rural,€with€the€rest€living€in€scattered€areas.Š « ŠĢ502.€€The€legal€system€set€up€by€the€authorities€in€1986€to€protect€the€minorities€in€accordance€withŠ ā} Šthe€Convention€was€described€in€detail€in€the€report,€in€particular€the€relevant€provisions€of€theŠ Ėf ŠConstitution€and€Act€No.€28,€the€Autonomy€Statute€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€Regions€of€Nicaragua.€TheŠ “O Šlatter€provided€for€the€establishment€of€Governments€of€the€Autonomous€Regions,€comprising€aŠ  8 ŠRegional€Council,€a€Regional€Coordinator€and€municipal€and€communal€authorities,€withŠ †!!  Šdecision-making€power€regarding€the€use€of€natural€resources.Š o" ! ŠĢ503.€€Thanking€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€for€the€additional€information€he€had€provided€inŠ A$Ü# Šintroducing€the€report,€the€Committee€expressed€its€satisfaction€at€the€resumption€of€dialogue€withŠ *%Å $ ŠNicaragua,€but€noted€with€regret€that€the€report€did€not€contain€specific€information€on€theŠ &®!% Šimplementation€of€the€anti-racial-discrimination€legislation€and€the€Convention.€The€CommitteeŠ ü&—"& Šreminded€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€that€regularity€in€submitting€periodic€reports€under€theŠ å'€#' ŠConvention€(every€two€years)€was€essential€for€an€effective€dialogue€with€the€Committee.Š Ī(i$( ŠĢ504.€€Regarding€the€general€part€of€the€report,€the€members€of€the€Committee€requested€moreŠ  *;&* Šinformation€on€the€composition€and€operation€of€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€the€Development€ofŠ ‰+$'+ Šthe€Autonomous€Regions€(INDERA)€and€up-to-date€information€on€the€indigenous€populations,€inŠ r, (, Šparticular€their€composition,€geographic€location€and€economic€situation,€throughout€the€territoryŠ [-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōof€the€country.€The€members€of€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€the€report€contained€€informationŠ e Šon€the€ethnic€minorities€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€only€and€asked€about€the€other€minorities€andŠ Né Šindigenous€groups€living€in€Nicaragua,€especially€those€on€the€Pacific€coast.€They€also€asked€aboutŠ 7Ņ Šthe€status€of€international€conventions,€in€particular€the€International€Convention€on€the€EliminationŠ  » Šof€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination,€in€Nicaraguan€domestic€law.Š  ¤ ŠĢ505.€€With€regard€to€article€2€of€the€Convention,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€furtherŠ Ū v Šinformation€on€the€policies€implemented€to€combat€all€forms€of€racial€discrimination.€ConcerningŠ Ä _ Šarticle€2,€paragraph€2,€they€also€asked€for€more€information€on€the€effective€functioning€andŠ ­ H Šstrengthening€of€the€powers€of€the€two€Regional€Councils€set€up€by€the€1987€Autonomy€Statute,Š – 1  Šespecially€with€regard€to€conservation€and€use€of€natural€resources€and€to€their€degree€of€politicalŠ    Šand€administrative€autonomy€with€respect€to€the€central€government€in€Managua.€Information€wasŠ h  Šalso€requested€on€the€situation€of€the€special€fund€for€social€development€and€progress€provided€forŠ Qģ  Šthe€two€Autonomous€Regions€and€on€the€amount€of€financial€resources€allocated€annually€by€theŠ :Õ  Šcentral€authorities€to€the€operating€budgets€of€the€autonomous€governments.€They€also€asked€forŠ #¾  Šfurther€information€on€the€draft€legislation€to€be€prepared,€in€consultation€with€the€indigenousŠ  §  Špopulations€concerned,€on€the€rational€use€and€conservation€of€the€natural€resources€of€theŠ õ Šautonomous€regions.Š Žy ŠĢ506.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€information€provided€in€connection€with€article€3€of€theŠ °K ŠConvention€was€inadequate,€inasmuch€as€practices€identical€to€apartheid€continued€to€exist€in€severalŠ ™4 Šparts€of€the€world.€The€members€of€the€Committee€therefore€asked€for€additional€information€on€theŠ ‚ Šmeasures€taken€by€the€authorities€under€article€3€of€the€Convention.Š k ŠĢ507.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€in€view€of€the€lack€of€information€in€the€writtenŠ =Ų Šreport,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€details€on€the€positive€legislative€steps€takenŠ &Į Šby€the€authorities,€especially€in€the€criminal€sphere,€to€make€all€forms€of€racial€discriminationŠ Ŗ Špunishable€offences;€in€that€connection,€they€asked€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€whether€theŠ ų“ ŠStatute€on€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€of€Nicaraguans,€mentioned€in€the€previous€report,€article€22Š į| Šof€which€prohibited€all€propaganda€against€peace€and€any€advocacy€of€national,€racial€or€religiousŠ Źe Šhatred,€was€still€in€force,€and€if€so,€whether€it€was€applied€and€in€what€context.Š ³N ŠĢ508.€€Noting€the€lack€of€information€on€article€5€of€the€Convention€in€the€report,€the€CommitteeŠ …!   Šasked€for€additional€information€on€the€steps€taken€to€implement€that€article,€in€particular€theŠ n" ! Šmeasures€adopted,€and€their€application,€to€ensure€the€equality€of€all€before€the€law€and€the€exerciseŠ W#ņ" Šof€political,€civil,€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€by€everyone,€without€discrimination.Š @$Ū# ŠĢ509.€€Concerning€article€6€of€the€Convention,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€explanationsŠ &­!% Šof€the€steps€taken€by€the€authorities€to€facilitate€the€return€and€resettlement€of€the€members€ofŠ ū&–"& Šindigenous€groups€who€had€fled€to€Honduras€and€Costa€Rica€during€the€hostilities,€in€particularŠ ä'#' Šlong-term€measures;€they€also€asked€for€information€on€the€functioning€of€the€judicial€bodies€in€theŠ Ķ(h$( ŠAutonomous€Regions€and€on€the€administration€of€justice€in€general€in€those€regions,€whichŠ ¶)Q%) Šaccording€to€article€18€of€the€Autonomy€Statute€was€governed€by€special€regulations.€They€alsoŠ Ÿ*:&* Šasked€what€remedies€were€available€in€cases€of€racial€discrimination.€Information€was€also€requestedŠ ˆ+#'+ Šon€the€establishment€of€the€Human€Rights€Advocate€and€on€his€powers€and€functions.Š q, (, ŠŠ Z-õ(- Š510.€€In€connection€with€article€7€of€the€Convention,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whatŠ e Šwere€the€"cases€specified€by€law"€in€which,€according€to€article€11€of€the€Constitution,€"theŠ Né Šlanguages€of€the€communities€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€region€of€Nicaragua€shall€also€be€usedŠ 7Ņ Šofficially".€Since€the€relationship€of€the€indigenous€peoples€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€with€their€land€wasŠ  » Šbasic€to€their€culture,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€was€the€area€of€the€inalienableŠ  ¤ Šlands€of€those€groups€and€requested€details€of€the€provisions€governing€the€mineral€resources€foundŠ ņ Šon€them.Š Ū v ŠĢ511.€€In€response€to€the€questions€and€comments€by€members€of€the€Committee,€it€was€said€by€theŠ ­ H Šrepresentative€of€the€State€party€that€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€the€Development€of€theŠ – 1  ŠAutonomous€Regions€(INDERA)€had€recently€been€disbanded,€firstly€because€its€main€function,€toŠ    Šbridge€the€gap€between€the€national€Government€and€the€Atlantic€Coast€autonomous€regions,€wasŠ h  Šno€longer€relevant€as€regional€governments€and€councils€had€been€consolidated,€and€secondlyŠ Qģ  Šbecause€the€management€of€the€Institute€was€primarily€handled€by€representatives€of€the€MisquitoŠ :Õ  Šcommunity,€thus€leading€to€discontent€among€the€members€of€other€ethnic€groups€who€felt€they€wereŠ #¾  Šnot€adequately€represented.€He€said€that€there€were€various€indigenous€communities€in€the€PacificŠ  §  Šcoast€regions,€with€populations€of€between€14,000€and€28,000€inhabitants,€but€in€general€thoseŠ õ Šindigenous€populations€had€been€assimilated€into€the€local€community,€thereby€losing€theirŠ Žy Štraditional€cultures€and€customs.Š Ēb ŠĢ512.€€Responding€to€specific€questions€regarding€the€exploitation€of€natural€resources€in€theŠ ™4 Šautonomous€regions,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€central€Government€issuedŠ ‚ Šthe€licences,€which€were€subject€to€the€approval€of€the€Regional€Councils.€The€regional€territoryŠ k Šcould€not€be€yielded€without€the€prior€approval€of€the€Regional€Councils,€the€resulting€disputesŠ Tļ Šbetween€the€State€and€the€Regional€Councils€being€dealt€with€by€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice.Š =Ų ŠĢ513.€€The€representative€added€that€concerning€the€bilingual€inter-ethnic€education€programme,Š Ŗ Šteachers,€instructors€and€leaders€and€representatives€of€indigenous€communities€were€directlyŠ ų“ Šinvolved€in€its€implementation,€which€had€covered€13,000€children€between€pre-school€age€and€theŠ į| Šfourth€grade€of€primary€school,€in€1992.€€A€bilingual€teacher€training€centre€had€been€set€up€inŠ Źe ŠPuerto€Cabezas€in€the€North€Atlantic€Coast€region.€He€added€that€in€the€autonomous€regions,€theŠ ³N Šlanguages€spoken€by€the€indigenous€communities€were€used€officially€in€the€administrative€organsŠ œ 7 Šof€the€regions,€in€addition€to€Spanish;€translations€of€employment€contracts€and€collectiveŠ …!   Šagreements€must€be€guaranteed€and€all€staff€involved€in€the€administration€of€justice€and€lawŠ n" ! Šenforcement€officials€must€be€able€to€understand€the€languages€spoken€by€all€parties€involved€in€aŠ W#ņ" Šdispute.€In€the€field€of€technical€education,€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€of€Technology€and€a€numberŠ @$Ū# Šof€indigenous€organizations€had€organized€between€40€and€50€courses€aimed€at€job€creation€and€theŠ )%Ä $ Šenhancement€of€technical€skills,€particularly€for€the€benefit€of€demobilized€persons,€returnees€andŠ &­!% Šwomen€heads€of€household,€in€about€60€indigenous€communities.€Some€300€people€had€participatedŠ ū&–"& Šin€workshops€designed€to€encourage€the€launching€of€small-scale€projects€and€micro-enterprises.Š ä'#' ŠĢ514.€€The€representative€said€that€his€Government€had€allocated€funds€through€the€Emergency€SocialŠ ¶)Q%) ŠInvestment€Fund€(FISE),€which€had€been€promoting€the€development€of€economic€and€socialŠ Ÿ*:&* Šinfrastructures€such€as€bridges,€roads,€waterways,€educational€buildings,€health€centres€and€inŠ ˆ+#'+ Šreforestation€programmes.€The€Nicaraguan€Institute€of€Energy,€with€foreign€assistance,€had€investedŠ q, (, ŠUS$€5€million€in€the€previous€two€years€in€new€electric€power€plants€designed€to€improve€energyŠ Z-õ(- Šdistribution€in€urban€centres€such€as€Bluefields€and€Puerto€Cabezas.Š e ŠĢ515.€€Regarding€tourism€in€the€autonomous€regions,€the€Ministry€of€Tourism€was€preparing€culturalŠ 7Ņ Šand€environment-friendly€tourism€programmes,€in€which€members€of€the€communities€were€trainedŠ  » Što€run€the€projects,€and€advisory€services€were€available€for€the€launching€of€community-basedŠ  ¤ Šinitiatives.Š ņ ŠĢ516.€€The€representative€said€that€a€Commission€on€Ethnic€Affairs€and€Indigenous€Communities€hadŠ Ä _ Šbeen€set€up€in€the€National€Assembly,€all€its€members€being€from€the€indigenous€population;€thisŠ ­ H ŠCommission€had€prepared€the€Nicaraguan€Plan€of€Action€for€the€International€Decade€of€the€World'sŠ – 1  ŠIndigenous€People,€comprising€several€themes€and€activities€each€year€until€the€year€2004.Š    ŠĢ517.€€At€the€same€time,€the€representative€emphasized€that€it€was€impossible€to€redress€in€such€aŠ Qģ  Šshort€period€of€time€the€consequences€of€civil€wars,€foreign€occupation,€dictatorship,€naturalŠ :Õ  Šdisasters€and€negligence€on€the€part€of€the€central€authorities.Š #¾  ŠĢ518.€€Concerning€Nicaraguan€involvement€in€the€international€and€interregional€protection€of€theŠ õ Šrights€of€minorities,€the€representative€said€that€Managua€was€the€headquarters€of€the€IndigenousŠ Žy ŠParliament€of€America,€which€recently€held€the€eleventh€Inter-American€Indigenous€Congress,Š Ēb Šduring€which€the€Managua€Declaration€was€adopted;€the€Declaration€noted€the€urgency€ofŠ °K Šrecognizing€the€tenure€of€land€belonging€to€the€continent's€indigenous€populations,€of€establishingŠ ™4 Šcoordinating€machinery€between€States€and€indigenous€populations€to€facilitate€decision-making€onŠ ‚ Šmatters€concerning€those€populations,€and€of€involving€indigenous€peoples€in€all€aspects€of€political,Š k Šlegal,€economic€and€social€life.€Nicaragua€had€actively€participated€in€the€activities€of€the€WorkingŠ Tļ ŠGroup€on€Indigenous€Populations€of€the€Subcommission€on€Prevention€of€Discrimination€andŠ =Ų ŠProtection€of€Minorities€since€its€establishment€in€1982€and€it€also€supported€the€drafting€of€aŠ &Į Šdeclaration€on€the€rights€of€indigenous€peoples.Š Ŗ ŠĢ519.€€The€Committee€thanked€the€representative€for€the€supplementary€information€provided,€butŠ į| Šnoted€that€the€delegation€had€failed€to€explain€how€it€was€complying€with€article€4€of€theŠ Źe ŠConvention.Š ³N ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ …!   ŠĢ520.€€At€its€1124ņņthóó€meeting,€held€on€16€August€1995,€the€Committee€adopted€the€followingŠ W#ņ" Šconcluding€observations:Š @$Ū# ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ &­!% ŠĢ521.€€Appreciation€is€expressed€for€the€resumption€of€the€dialogue€between€Nicaragua€and€theŠ ä'#' ŠCommittee,€and€for€the€detailed€and€frank€report€submitted€by€the€State€party.€It€is€however€regrettedŠ Ķ(h$( Šthat€the€report€provided€insufficient€factual€information,€especially€with€regard€to€theŠ ¶)Q%) Šimplementation€of€the€Convention€and€the€related€domestic€legislation.€The€delegation€whichŠ Ÿ*:&* Špresented€the€report€is€commended€for€the€useful€additional€information€provided€orally,€in€responseŠ ˆ+#'+ Što€the€questions€raised€and€comments€made€by€the€Committee€members,€and€its€commitment€toŠ q, (, Šprovide€the€Committee€with€written€answers€is€most€welcome.Š Z-õ(- Š‡522.€€The€armed€conflict€raging€in€the€country€during€the€past€decade,€in€which€the€indigenousŠ e Špopulations€were,€willingly€or€unwillingly,€used€as€political,€military€and€strategic€tools,€dominatedŠ Né Šthe€overall€human€rights€picture€of€the€country,€and€still€has€some€consequences€for€the€fullŠ 7Ņ Šenjoyment€of€human€rights€by€all€Nicaraguans,€together€with€the€political€problems€of€governanceŠ  » Šand€economic€crisis,€which€still€persist.Š  ¤ ŠĢ523.€€It€is€noted€that€the€State€party€has€not€made€the€declaration€provided€for€in€article€14€of€theŠ Ū v ŠConvention,€and€some€members€of€the€Committee€requested€that€the€possibility€of€such€a€declarationŠ Ä _ Šbe€considered.Š ­ H ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ    ŠĢ524.€€The€Constitution€of€1987,€which€recognizes€for€the€first€time€the€multi-ethnic€character€of€theŠ Qģ  ŠNicaraguan€population€and€grants€to€all€persons€the€enjoyment€of€the€rights€proclaimed€in€variousŠ :Õ  Šinternational€and€regional€instruments,€is€welcomed.€Other€encouraging€developments€include€theŠ #¾  Šprovisions€of€the€same€constitution€and€of€Act€No.€28€of€1987,€known€as€the€Autonomy€Statute,Š  §  Šwhich€establishes€a€special€regime€of€autonomy€for€two€regions€of€the€Atlantic€coast€of€NicaraguaŠ õ Šwhere€most€of€the€ethnic€minorities€and€the€indigenous€groups€live.€The€Autonomy€StatuteŠ Žy Šrecognizes€and€guarantees,€among€other€things,€the€communal€form€of€land€ownership€of€the€peoplesŠ Ēb Šof€the€two€autonomous€regions€and€their€right€to€education€in€their€own€language.Š °K ŠĢ525.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€constitutional€amendments€of€1995,€especially€the€provisionsŠ ‚ Šwhich€emphasize€the€ethnic€pluralism€of€Nicaragua€and€reinforce€the€rights€of€the€indigenousŠ k Špopulations€and€other€ethnic€groups€of€the€Atlantic€coast,€including€the€right€of€the€regional€councilsŠ Tļ Što€approve€agreements€for€the€exploitation€of€their€natural€resources.Š =Ų ŠĢ526.€€The€adoption€of€the€Amparo€Act€in€1988,€providing€for€the€right€to€habeas€corpus€in€theŠ Ŗ Šconstitutional,€administrative€and€criminal€spheres,€and€the€statement€made€in€the€report€thatŠ ų“ Šcultural,€social€and€other€factors€are€taken€into€account€when€members€of€the€indigenousŠ į| Šcommunities€are€tried,€are€both€welcomed.€Note€is€taken€with€appreciation€of€articles€549€and€550Š Źe Šof€the€Criminal€Code,€inspired€by€the€Convention€on€the€Prevention€and€Punishment€of€the€CrimeŠ ³N Šof€Genocide.Š œ 7 ŠĢ527.€€The€elections€in€1990€and€1994€of€the€two€Regional€Councils,€which€are€granted€importantŠ n" ! Šfunctions€and€powers€by€the€Autonomy€Act€of€1987,€in€particular€with€regard€to€the€conclusion€ofŠ W#ņ" Šagreements€between€the€regional€and€central€governments€on€rational€use€and€exploitation€of€theŠ @$Ū# Šregions'€natural€resources,€are€noted€with€satisfaction,€as€is€the€constitutional€provision€of€1995€toŠ )%Ä $ Šenact€a€new€and€more€complete€law€for€the€autonomous€regions.Š &­!% ŠĢ528.€€It€is€noted€with€appreciation€that€efforts€are€being€made€by€the€authorities€to€set€up€aŠ ä'#' Šmulti-lingual€education€system€in€favour€of€the€indigenous€communities,€and€that,€in€accordanceŠ Ķ(h$( Šwith€Act.€No€162,€indigenous€languages€besides€Spanish€are€of€official€use€in€the€autonomousŠ ¶)Q%) Šregions.Š Ÿ*:&* ŠĢ529.€€The€establishment€in€the€constitutional€reforms€of€1995€of€the€Office€of€Human€RightsŠ q, (, ŠOmbudsman€to€inquire€into€human€rights€violations€and€to€monitor€the€implementation€ofŠ Z-õ(- Šinternational€human€rights€instruments€ratified€by€Nicaragua,€such€as€the€Convention,€is€welcomed.Š e ŠĢ530.€€The€efforts€made€by€the€State€party,€in€cooperation€with€the€United€Nations,€to€arrange€theŠ 7Ņ Šrepatriation€and€the€resettlement€of€the€Miskitos,€Sumus€and€Creoles€who€fled€to€neighboringŠ  » Šcountries€during€the€civil€conflict,€are€commended.Š  ¤ ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ Ū v ŠĢ531.€€Concern€is€expressed€as€to€the€status€of€the€Convention€in€the€domestic€legal€order€ofŠ ­ H ŠNicaragua€and€the€lack€of€information€about€this€in€the€report€and€during€the€oral€presentation.Š – 1  ŠĢ532.€€It€is€noted€with€concern€that€the€State€party€has€not€implemented€the€provisions€of€article€4€ofŠ h  Šthe€Convention,€which€call€for€the€adoption€of€positive€measures€and€specific€penal€legislation€toŠ Qģ  Šcombat€racial€discrimination.Š :Õ  ŠĢ533.€€The€realization€of€economic€and€social€rights€is€a€matter€of€continuous€concern,€in€particularŠ  §  Šas€the€so-called€structural€adjustment€measures€and€the€privatization€of€State€property€have€hadŠ õ Šnegative€consequences€on€the€enjoyment€of€the€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€of€theŠ Žy ŠNicaraguan€people,€especially€on€its€most€vulnerable€sectors€and€among€them€the€indigenousŠ Ēb Šcommunities.Š °K ŠĢ534.€€It€is€regretted€that€insufficient€information€was€provided€on€the€implementation€of€articles€5Š ‚ Šand€6€of€the€Convention,€in€particular€on€specific€provisions€of€the€domestic€legislation€adopted€toŠ k Šimplement€these€articles€and€on€the€number€of€complaints€of€racial€discrimination€brought€beforeŠ Tļ Šthe€courts.Š =Ų ŠĢ535.€€Concern€is€expressed€at€the€ratio€of€communal€land€to€private€land€in€the€autonomous€regions,Š Ŗ Šwith€particular€regard€to€the€mining€rights€and€at€inequalities€in€the€sharing€of€the€benefits€of€theŠ ų“ Šexploitation€of€natural€resources€in€the€autonomous€territories€between€the€regional€and€the€centralŠ į| Šauthorities.Š Źe ŠĢ536.€€Further€concern€is€expressed€at€the€lack€of€adequate€consultation€with€the€regional€authoritiesŠ œ 7 Šin€the€decision-making€process€by€the€central€authorities,€thus€leading€to€insufficient€participationŠ …!   Šof€the€indigenous€groups€in€decisions€affecting€their€land€and€the€allocation€of€the€natural€resourcesŠ n" ! Šof€their€land,€their€cultures€and€their€traditions.Š W#ņ" ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ )%Ä $ ŠĢ537.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€implement€the€obligations€under€theŠ ū&–"& Šprovisions€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.Š ä'#' ŠĢ538.€€In€view€of€the€importance€of€measures€in€the€fields€of€teaching,€education,€culture€andŠ ¶)Q%) Šinformation€to€combat€prejudices€which€lead€to€racial€discrimination€and€to€promote€understanding,Š Ÿ*:&* Štolerance€and€friendship€among€racial€and€ethnical€groups,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€StateŠ ˆ+#'+ Šparty€takes€all€necessary€measures€in€those€fields€in€accordance€with€article€7€of€the€Convention.Š q, (, ŠŠ Z-õ(- Š539.€€The€Committee€recommends€that,€in€its€policy-making€on€matters€relating€to€racialŠ e Šdiscrimination€at€large,€the€Government€take€into€account€the€general€recommendations€adopted€byŠ Né Šthe€Committee,€including€those€relating€to€the€establishment€of€a€national€commission€for€theŠ 7Ņ Špurpose€of€facilitating€the€aims€and€purposes€of€the€Convention€(general€recommendation€XVIIŠ  » Š(42))€and€to€the€training€of€law€enforcement€officers€(general€recommendation€XIII€(42)).Š  ¤ ŠĢ540.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€ratify€the€amendments€to€article€8,€paragraphŠ Ū v Š6,€of€the€Convention,€adopted€by€the€fourteenth€meeting€of€States€parties.Š Ä _ ŠĢ541.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party's€tenth€periodic€report,€due€on€17€March€1997,Š – 1  Šbe€a€comprehensive€report.Š    Š