Nicaragua

 

 

ADF began its assistance in Nicaragua in 1988, during the Marxist Sandinista régime, with civic education and training programs for democratic opposition groups – including independent civic, women, youth and media organizations – promoting democracy and peace. The vision of these groups became reality with the free elections of 1990, which resulted in the formation of a new government, headed by Violeta Chamorro, committed to democratic and economic reform, rule of law, and human rights.

 

Starting in 1991, ADF provided assistance for the institutional development of Nicaragua's two leading independent human rights organizations, the Asociacion Nicaraguaense Pro Derechos Humanos and the Comision Permanente de Derechos Humanos , and their program activities in human rights. ADF upgraded their capabilities to investigate, document, and report on human rights abuses, conduct human rights educational activities, provide legal assistance to victims, and mobilize coalitions of human rights organizations to contribute to improve the formulation of laws and policies concerning human rights.

 

The two organizations have been very successful in bolstering official and societal commitment to human rights, carrying out education programs, and providing legal assistance. Our work ultimately expanded to include support for the civic education activities of the Nicaraguan business community and its affiliated Nicaraguan Development Institute (INDE) and Nicaraguan Development Foundation (FUNDE) both found at www.inde.org.ni.

 

ADF enabled INDE to conduct seminars, workshops, and mass media campaigns in civic education. This led to a growing, positive influence of interest groups and NGOs in Nicaraguan society. INDE enhanced the efforts of private sector organizations to promote democratic leadership and the nonviolent, democratic participation of citizens in the resolution of problems at the local and national levels.