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Nicaragua UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado deplores the death in State custody of Brooklyn Rivera
“We deplore the death in State custody of Indigenous leader and activist Brooklyn Rivera. We call on Nicaraguan authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into his death, following protracted arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance,” she said.
“Relatives were informed on 30 May that Rivera, a prominent Miskitu leader and president of the dissolved Yatama party, had died after more than 32 months in State custody," she stated.
“Rivera participated in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in May 2023, after which the Nicaraguan authorities prevented him from returning to Nicaragua.”
“Upon his clandestine return to Nicaragua, he was arbitrarily detained in September 2023. Despite requests, authorities refused to acknowledge his fate and whereabouts until his death, which amounts to enforced disappearance,” the spokesperson said.
“The High Commissioner urges the Nicaraguan authorities to release all those arbitrarily detained and to ensure that detention facilities fully comply with international human rights standards,” Hurtado said.
Please find the transcript of the Spanish statement below:
“ Deploramos la muerte, mientras se encontraba bajo custodia del Estado, del líder indígena y activista Brooklyn Rivera.
Instamos a las autoridades nicaragüenses a que lleven a cabo una investigación pronta, imparcial y eficaz sobre su muerte, tras una prolongada detención arbitraria y una desaparición forzada.
El 30 de mayo se informó a sus familiares de que Rivera, destacado líder miskito y presidente del partido disuelto Yatama, había fallecido tras más de 32 meses bajo custodia del Estado.
Tras su regreso clandestino a Nicaragua, fue detenido arbitrariamente en septiembre de 2023. A pesar de las solicitudes, las autoridades se negaron a dar a conocer su paradero y su situación hasta el momento de su muerte, lo que constituye una desaparición forzada.
La Alta Comisionada insta a las autoridades nicaragüenses a que pongan en libertad a todas las personas detenidas arbitrariamente y a que garanticen que los centros de detención cumplan plenamente con las normas internacionales de derechos humanos.”
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva:
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Marta Hurtado: +41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan: +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
In Nairobi:
Seif Magango: +254 788 343 897/ seif.magango@un.org
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STORY: Nicaragua: UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado deplores the death in State custody of Brooklyn Rivera
death of
TRT:
02:13 ENG
01:20 SP
SOURCE: OHCHR /UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/Spanish/ NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 02 June 2026 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shot : Palais des Nations.
- Interior shot : Briefing room.
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We deplore the death in State custody of Indigenous leader and activist Brooklyn Rivera. We call on Nicaraguan authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into his death, following protracted arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.”
- Cut aways: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Relatives were informed on 30 May that Rivera, a prominent Miskitu leader and president of the dissolved Yatama party, had died after more than 32 months in State custody.”
- Cut aways: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Rivera participated in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in May 2023, after which the Nicaraguan authorities prevented him from returning to Nicaragua.”
- Cut aways: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Upon his clandestine return to Nicaragua, he was arbitrarily detained in September 2023. Despite requests, authorities refused to acknowledge his fate and whereabouts until his death, which amounts to enforced disappearance.”
- Cut aways: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The High Commissioner urges the Nicaraguan authorities to release all those arbitrarily detained and to ensure that detention facilities fully comply with international human rights standards.”
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