Nicaragua
Population size:
6.6 million [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
Women who have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime: 23%
Women who have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in the last 12 months: 8%
Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence against women: Official National Statistics Not Available [2]
Over 32,000 complaints of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Nicaragua in 2012. [3]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
Productivity loss of $29.5 million [4]
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
No research.
Current law and policy:
Nicaragua joins the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign and commits to improve laws, policies and access to justice. Nicaragua has joined the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women and commits to take a series of political, legislative and administrative actions to eradicate violence against women and girls. Specifically, Nicaragua shares the objectives of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign and commits to the approval and implementation of Act 779, Integrated Act against Violence against Women and to reform Act 641, the “Penal Code”. In particular, by implementing the public policy of State against violence against women; by guaranteeing prompt and effective access to justice; by creating the observatory of violence pursuant to the provisions of Act 779 and by improving the statistical information system on violence against women; by broadening the coverage of specialised justice with new courts specialising in violence and recruiting auxiliary staff to carry out judicial activities; and by improving capacity for the investigation and punishment of crimes.
The State of Nicaragua further commits to the creation and operation of the National Inter-Institutional Commission for the Struggle against Violence, which will design and implement relevant policy. It will make increases in budget for health and education, improving women’s economic and social rights and contributing to gender equality. The institutions of Education, Health and Family working for the protection and restoration of the rights of children and adolescents, will promote new models of bringing up children whereby the practices of punishment and humiliation are replaced by values of respect, love and protection from any form of discrimination and exploitation, in line with the best interests of the girl or boy. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers of Nicaragua commits to generate greater public and social awareness to prevent, respond to and punish violence against women.
Frontline Services:
UCA Soppexcca - http://www.soppexcca.org/en/
Pro Mujer - https://promujer.org/ - communications@promujer.org
FEMUPROCAN - https://www.femuprocan.org/
ANF Nicaragua - https://www.anfnicaragua.org/ - info@anfnicaragua.org
Sources
[1] Worldometer, “Nicaragua Population (Live)”, (worldometers.info)
[2] Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo, Ministerio de Salud, 2014. EncuestaNicaragüense de Demografia y Salud (ENDESA) 2011-2012. Managua, Nicaragua
[3] https://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women-when-will-nicaragua-wake-up/
[4] Morris, S., N. Devlin, et al. (2007). Economic analysis in health care, Wiley Morrison, A., and M. B. Orlando. (1999). “The Socioeconomic Costs of Domestic Violence: Chile and Nicaragua.” In Too Close To Home: Domestic Violence in the Americas, ed. A.R.Morrison and M.L. Biehl. Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank