Country Overview
Nicaragua
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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Some legal progress has been made in Nicaragua to recognize and protect the human rights of LGBTIQ people. Sexual orientation is recognized as an aggravating circumstance in the commission of a hate crime, and discrimination based on sexual orientation is also explicitly banned. However, implementation of these laws is lacking. Gender identity is not included in either of the aforementioned laws. As such, attacks by public officials and private citizens against trans people are made with impunity. A Family Code passed in 2014 stipulates that marriage can only be established between a man and a woman. Since 2018, a civic opposition movement has developed in Nicaragua against an increasingly authoritarian government. The government has responded with a violent crackdown, and arrested and imprisoned protesters, journalists, and activists, making it difficult for LGBTIQ groups to organize.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
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