human rights defender
Suyen Barahona Cuán
Actions and Campaigns
Urgent support needed
(AI translated) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Precautionary Measures Nos. 593-21, 665-21, and 680-21 https://www.oas.org/es/cidh/decisiones/mc/2021/res_71-21_mc_593-21,%20665-21%20y%20680-21_ni_es.pdf
Organization affiliation
- Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco (UNAB)
- Unión Democrática Renovadora (UNAMOS)
HRD's year of birth
1977
HRD's Gender
Woman
Type of HRD
- Social and community leader
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Women's rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
Released
HRD's bio and work
(AI translated) Suyen Barahona is the executive director of the Colmena Fund, which is dedicated to accelerating the power of women in formal political spaces throughout the global south, especially women from marginalised backgrounds. She is a political leader, human rights activist and feminist with more than 15 years of experience in political leadership. She was previously president of UNAMOS, a Nicaraguan political party that promotes democracy, progress, opportunity, and justice.
She has suffered persecution and has been unjustly and arbitrarily imprisoned on two occasions. As a result of a wave of brutal government repression prior to the 2001 national elections, she was illegally imprisoned for 606 days, deported, and stripped of her citizenship.
She is committed to supporting other women in gaining political power to promote democracy, gender equality, and justice.
In 2022, she received the Human Rights Award for her outstanding political courage from the Progressive Alliance, and in 2023, she received the Champions of Justice Award from the Global Women's Institute at George Washington University.
Detained since
Jun 13, 2021
Date of release
Feb 9, 2023
Charge(s)
- Subversion
Sentence
(AI translated) 8 years in prison
Latitude: 12.096942985994628
Longitude: -86.2812758311463
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Americas: Latin America and the Caribbean
Location of detention - City/Town
Managua
Location of detention - Facility
Dirección de Auxilio Judicial «Evaristo Vásquez» conocido como el Nuevo Chipote
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
(AI translated) In permanent isolation alongside three other cellmates, confined to solitary confinement cells, they have no access to reading material and are under constant guard.
Recent case update / evolution
(AI translated) Exiled and stripped of her nationality and possessions.
On 07/02/23, a judicial notification card was sent to the defence declaring her a traitor to the country and revoking her civil rights.
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