Nicaragua

AT A GLANCE

Same Sex Relations Legal? YES

Legal Gender Recognition Possible? NO

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register? YES

Actions Related to SOGI at the UN 2016: Opposed IE SOGI   IE SOGI refers to the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Overview

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.