Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on civil society organisations in Nicaragua of the closure of the Information Center and Advisory Services in that country; and if he will make a statement.

We strongly condemn the persecution of human rights organisations in Nicaragua, including the steps taken by the authorities to revoke the legal status of human rights Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The UK regularly raises our concerns with the Nicaraguan Government. During meetings on 5-7 and 25 February, our Ambassador urged the Nicaraguan Government to reinstate NGO registration and to allow international bodies, such as the UN and the Organization of American States, back to continue their vital work.