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Republic of Nicaragua
Position Paper for the 2021 ESMOAS Summit of the Americas
Nicaragua’s Position Paper / 2021 ESMOAS Summit of the
Americas / Documento de posición de Nicaragua / 2021
ESMOAS Cumbre de las Américas
Republic of Nicaragua
Position Paper
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I. GENERAL STATEMENT / DECLARACIÓN GENERAL
Greetings to all delegates of the Organization of American States (OAS). The delegation
of Nicaragua is honored to be a part of the historical mission of the OAS in supporting the
independence and sovereignty of its member states. Being an original member of the OAS after
having joined in 1948, Nicaragua is proud to have had the opportunity to witness pivotal changes
within the Western hemisphere. The movement within Latin and Central America towards
defending the equality of its peoples and the sovereignty of nations are to be commended by the
OAS. In this summit, the delegation of Nicaragua is pleased to work with other member states in
standing up for a core belief of the OAS- that being, the principle of nonintervention out of
respect for the sovereignty of a nation.
Nicaragua suffered through almost 300 years of Spanish colonization. Beginning from
the moment other conquistadores, such as Gil Gonzales Davila, were interested in the fruits of
the land (centralamerica.com, 2019). However, the benefits of conquest were not distributed to
the native inhabitants of the land and in 1815, with diminished Spanish influence in the territory,
Nicaragua issued an act of independence. Nicaragua then became a province of the Captaincy
General of Guatemala, which was overseen by the Viceroyalty of New Spain or Mexico
(centralamerica.com, 2019). With the same amount of negligence from Mexico as it received
from Spain, Nicaragua pulled out of the Mexican empire. The United Provinces of Central
America gave Nicaragua an official place to continue the regional unity with Costa Rica,
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras (Britannica, 2021). Nicaragua declared full independence
and became a sovereign state in 1838.
During much of the mid to late 1800s, the nation of Nicaragua was ruled by the
conservative party. This would come to an end in 1891 with the election of Roberto Sacasa,
whose election resulted in a split in the conservative party. The liberals, under the leadership of
General José Zelaya, would take advantage of this division, leading to a series of revolts. General
José Zelaya would assume the position of president in July of 1983 (Tim Merrill, 1993).
The presidency of José Zelaya would come to be viewed by historians as one of the most
controversial in Nicaraguan history, President Zelaya held the office for a period of 16 years
despite constant opposition to his dictatorial rule. While President Zelaya had much opposition,
he was responsible for a rise in nationalism due to the economic and infrastructural growth in the
nation under his administration. Zelaya was also responsible for ending a longstanding territorial
dispute with Great Britain. However, while this agreement was favorable at home, it resulted in a
loss of support on the international stage. Zelaya’s brewing imperialistic ambition along with his
anti-United States stance resulted in the United States backing a conservative rebellion in 1909,
removing José Zelaya from office and marking the end of his 16-year rule (Tim Merrill, 1993).
After the removal of José Zelaya, the office of the president would be held by multiple
figures, including Juan Estrada, who after failing to unite both parties would be removed from
office and replaced with Adolfo Díaz. The Díaz administration would see a period of United
States occupation of the region, as the administration was unable to handle opposition revolts.
The United States would remain in Nicaragua from 1912 to 1933. In response to U.S.
occupation, the liberal party refused to participate in elections until 1920, resulting in multiple
conservative administrations. While the liberal party struggled to grasp any ounce of political
Republic of Nicaragua
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power in Nicaragua, conservative administrations would continue to request support and
mediation from the United States, as there were still multiple liberal revolts and violence began
to worsen. The constant violence and rebellion allowed for many figures to take center stage; one
such figure was Augusto César Sandino (Tim Merrill, 1993).
Augusto César Sandino was a strong nationalist, who valued social equality and saw the
current state of affairs under conservative rule as a failure and in desperate need of change.
Sandino had come to the conclusion that he must bring about the change he deemed necessary,
so he formed an army and joined the liberals in their efforts to remove conservative president
Emiliano Chamorro. However, due to U.S. mediation, Sandino’s priority began to shift from the
removal of conservative officials to a focus on maintaining national sovereignty. Sandino
rebranded his military as the Army for the Defense of Nicaraguan Sovereignty (EDSN) and
began a guerilla movement against the United States. The election of 1932 would see the election
of the first liberal president since José Zelaya, Juan Sacasa. Sacasa would lose the support of
Sandino, despite the removal of United States troops in 1933. Sandino’s EDSN continued to
combat the Nicaraguan National Guard since they had been trained and funded by the U.S.
making them remnants of U.S. occupation. Sandino would meet regularly with President Sacasa
to discuss the removal of the National Guard in return for an end to the conflict, this demand
would mark Sandino as an enemy of then Chief Director of the National Guard Somoza Garcia,
who would order the assassination of Augusto Sandino, and on February 21, 1934, Sandino
would be arrested and murdered (Tim Merrill, 1993). Sandino’s undying nationalism and the
fight for sovereignty would not be forgotten, and his movement would once again rise. Augusto
Sandino and his fight for the sovereignty of Nicaragua has become the embodiment of the
movement Daniel Ortega has pursued.
The very man who ordered the assassination of Sandino, Anastasio Somoza Garcia, would
rule Nicaragua from 1936 to 1956. After his assassination, his sons would take power and rule
until 1979, staying in power for so long due to support from the United States of America. In
addition to embodying anti-democratic ideals for over four decades, the Somoza family
accumulated capital through overt bribery and corruption. The Somoza family grew their wealth
to equal 33% of Nicaragua’s GDP (Birdsall, 2002). The valiant efforts of Sandinistas, under the
direction of Daniel Ortega, brought an end to the autocratic Somoza regime in 1979. When the
Sandinistas were able to triumph over the Somoza reign, Ortega recognized the country required
a different approach to governance than that of his predecessors. He created a platform that
prioritized the well-being of all people instead of the wealthy.
Education and literacy were considered threats to the pre-existing political structure, as the
exploitation of illiterate workers was an integral part of the Somoza regime. Ortega recognized
this as a tool of oppression and quickly took action. After a year of Ortega being in office, the
national illiteracy rate fell from 50.3% to 12.9% through the National Literacy Campaign
(Osborne, 2000). The policy had a profound impact on an entire generation of citizens: the
cultivation of a robust democracy begins with literacy. The program itself was awarded the
esteemed UNESCO Literacy Award for its immense impact within the country (Osborne, 2000).
Informed by notions of social justice, the Sandinistas have continuously reiterated their
commitment to the welfare of the people.
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The works of the Sandinistas have been continuously undermined by the presence of
unchecked Western influence. Counterrevolutionaries, or Contras, were backed by the United
States government to subvert the social and economic reforms being implemented in Nicaragua.
The Reagan Administration supported the efforts of the Contras to sabotage the new government
of Nicaragua, providing the rebels with arms, training, and financial backing (Joseph et al.,
2010). By 1985, the United States placed a trade embargo on Nicaragua to diminish the
economic gains of the Sandinistas. Five years later, the next administration continued to interfere
in the electoral process, in a gross violation of sovereignty and democracy. The Bush
Administration supplied $9 million to the opposition party led by Violeta Chamorro and $49.5
million to the Contras, contributing to widespread reports of election intimidation and violence
(Joseph et al., 2010). Western governments unequivocally exert their power to express political
and ideological dominance -- and destabilize the innovative policies that threaten their capitalist
agenda.
In this conference, the delegation of Nicaragua wishes to serve all people of the Americas by
reinforcing the OAS stance of noninterventionism. This is with the understanding that by
pressing one nation’s agenda unto another, then the wealthiest among the member states have an
unfair and unwelcome advantage and could hinder the growth of another nation. This is
something the Western hemisphere has seen for centuries, and recovery is well underway. But
the OAS must stand firmly against hindrances to this healing. Therefore, in this summit,
Nicaragua will serve to remind other member states of the harm that has been done when
sovereignty goes unrecognized and will seek to protect and strengthen the sovereignty of all
member states at this conference.
II. PARTICULAR STATEMENTS / DECLARACIONES PARTICULARES
A: Committee: General Committee (GC)
This delegation is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to speak about the pressing issue
of democracy as it pertains to member states of the OAS. The matter of strengthening democracy
through the Inter-American Democratic Charter (IADC) is one that must be considered from
various perspectives. One of the many reasons this topic is on the table for the General
Committee (GC) is because the western-based model of democracy would indicate that
democracy is flawed in the region. For example, Freedom House is an indicator of liberal
democracy, which is a Western conception in itself. Therefore, holding nations with vastly
different histories, values, and resources to one standard for democracy is nonsensical and
disregards the rich history of Central and South America.
According to Freedom House, the region’s overall score is 30 out of 100, and is
categorized as ‘not free’ (Explore the Map, n.d.). This delegation stands firmly in the argument
that this is flawed for one simple reason- because democracy is about the will of the people, and
not about the will of the West.
It is also significant to note that this Western iteration of democracy is not infallible,
although many Western nations wish to promote the idea that it is. In 2020, the United States had
37.2 million people suffering from poverty, approximately 3.3 million more than the year prior.
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Overall, the U.S. saw an increase in poverty after five decades of continuous decline. (Bureau,
n.d.) This was concurrent to the political distress occurring in this U.S. that ultimately reached a
boiling point on January 6th, 2021.
As citizens of the United States stormed their Capitol building, it became clear to the
global community that Western-baked democracy is little more than an illusion designed to keep
other countries docile and malleable. A nation that is secure and protected in its own right to rule
as its leaders deem fit is one that will not bend to the will of the wealthy, the will of those who
have been imperialists in the past and come dangerously close to being imperialists again today.
It is, for this reason, that respect for sovereignty must be a priority for the OAS regarding
the topic of the IADC. By supporting member states in their centuries-long mission of service to
the freedom of their people, the OAS is committing to protecting sovereignty on all fronts, as one
cannot exist without the other.
The IADC was signed on September 11th, 2001 in Peru. It is generally well-aligned with
the goals of the OAS, both stating the importance of promoting democracy, “with due respect for
the principle of nonintervention.” (Inter-American Democratic Charter, n.d.). While this is
certainly a noble goal, it is one that the OAS has not done due diligence to ensure follow-through
and has demonstrated a lack of commitment to the original intent of the IADC.
Just as recently as 2019, the OAS declared “serious irregularities” in the Bolivian general
elections (OAS, 2019), casting significant international doubt of the legitimacy of election
winner Evo Morales. Referring to this alleged instance of election interference as “malicious”
(Welle, n.d.), these unfounded accusations eventually culminated in a military coup in which the
fairly elected Morales was ousted.
However, it was found by MIT researchers that there was no statistical evidence
supporting the claim of fraud in this election (RT, n.d.). This effectively means that the OAS,
acting in “support” of the IADC, played a significant role in ridding a nation of their chosen
leader.
To this point, this delegation proposes a solution to anticipate and prevent election interference
in the digital age.
Electoral interference has been an issue for centuries. However, in recent years it has come to
light as more advanced technology gives the ability to interfere in a less direct, yet more far-
reaching and ultimately effective manner. Influence via social media has proven to be a direct
threat to a nation’s ability to maintain democracy. It is for this reason that the delegation
proposes cooperation between the OAS and NGOs for the common goal of protecting a country
from foreign electoral interference, whether overt or covert.
For the sake of defending the sovereignty of the member states, the delegation urges all member
states to think in the interest of the next generations, who will only live in a successful nation if
freedom is protected today.
B: Committee: Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI)
Each nation state in the Organization of American States, as of 2020, on average has
approximately 20% of their total population between the ages of 0 and 14 (World Bank, 2020).
The children and adolescents that call the Americas their home not only make up a large
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percentage of the overall population but are undoubtedly the future leaders that will one day fill
the shoes of each political leader. There is no demographic more at risk, more vulnerable, or
neglected than that of children, children are heavily dependent on the actions of each member
state to live prosperous, successful, and happy lives. It is the responsibility of each member state,
within their own nation, to guarantee that all children have access to equal opportunities, access
to an education, and access to basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter.
In Latin America alone, approximately 46% of children between the ages of 0 and 14 live
well below the poverty line, these economic inequalities directly correlate with lack of access to
equal opportunities, education, and basic necessities (UNICEF, 2021). The high poverty rates in
the region have resulted in only six out of ten children between the ages of three and four attend
early education, and even fewer complete their education (UNICEF, 2021). Children of the OAS
should not be forced to work at a young age to provide for themselves, nor should they be denied
their childhoods. It is not the responsibility of a governing entity to protect the most vulnerable
population, however this cannot be done without the creation of an Inter-American Declaration
on the Rights of Children. The nation of Nicaragua stands on the side of children, and against the
forces that impede their success.
The nation of Nicaragua is proud to have signed and been one of the first nations to ratify
the Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations Treaty Collection, 1995). The nation
of Nicaragua has always acknowledged the importance of protecting the most vulnerable
population and understands the responsibility that such a convention elicits. Due to the
ratification of the convention, there has been great strides in reducing infant mortality, decrease
in malnutrition, and access to basic necessities (UNICEF, 2021). However, these strides have
impacted each region of the world differently, with Latin America being one of the most unequal
in the world with 2 out of 5 children not having their rights fulfilled, and with over 3 million
children under the age of 5 not even being registered (UNICEF, 2021).
The nation of Nicaragua stresses the importance of the creation of an Inter-American
Declaration on the Rights of Children, out of fear that the United Nations has succumb to the
influence of global superpowers, that only wish to weaken developing nations such as Nicaragua
and many other nation states in the Organization of American States (UN General Assembly,
2019). The Government of Nicaragua strongly believes in a nation’s right to independence and
sovereignty and does not believe that with the current model of the United Nations has the
interest of Latin American nations in mind. Nicaragua believes that due to the UN’s encroaching
control, that the Convention on the Rights of the Child will not be upheld on a global scale, and
it has become the responsibility of the OAS to guarantee the rights of children in the hemisphere.
The nation of Nicaragua is proud to be a participating member in the Organization of
American States in the fight for the rights of children and has openly supported mandates that
guarantee these rights. The Government of Nicaragua cares deeply about children and access to
education, and as such has been in support of mandates that guarantee this right. While the
Government of Nicaragua has been in support of these mandates, Nicaragua believes that such
progressive strides could not be successful if forced upon nations. The nation of Nicaragua,
independently, has been capable of making significant strides on the right to an education that
has been recognized by UNICEF. While Nicaragua acknowledges the importance of the OAS
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and its role but must question the overall impact the OAS has on the region, especially seeing
that nations such as Nicaragua has been capable of great strides without the support of the OAS.
The nation of Nicaragua especially under the presidency of Daniel Ortega, has always
cared deeply about the rights of children and adolescents. It would be untrue to claim that the
nation of Nicaragua has been perfect in regards to guaranteeing the rights of children yet
claiming to be perfect on this issue is a stance no member state can make. Biased media has
spread exaggerated inaccuracies on the condition of children in Nicaragua, while blatantly
ignoring the great strides that have been made.
Under this administration, the nation of Nicaragua has made great strides that have been
acknowledged by organizations such as UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s
Emergency Fund). The nation of Nicaragua has been praised by UNICEF for its economic and
social policies, as well as its significant progress in the eradication of poverty through economic,
political, educational, and social development. Aside from these significant successes, UNICEF
has also recognized the legal framework that have been implemented in Nicaragua in protection
of the rights of children and adolescents, along with national and international instruments that
protect the rights of children (UN General Assembly, 2019). These progressive strides have only
been possible under the administration of Daniel Ortega, previous administrations have been
unable to make successful strides similar to that of the Ortega administration.
Progress that has been made under the presidency of Daniel Ortega for the betterment of
the rights and condition of children has also been the impressive reduction of the poverty rate in
pre-pandemic periods. As acknowledged by UNICEF is the poverty rate reduction of general
poverty by 17.6% and extreme poverty by 7.7%, between the years of 2009 to 2016 (UN General
Assembly, 2019). The issue of poverty is an issue that all Latin American and Caribbean nations
have been forced to combat, UNICEF has released data that shows that approximately 46.2% of
all children in Latin America and the Caribbean between the ages of 0 and 14 live in poverty or
extreme poverty (UNICEF, 2021). This impressive reduction of poverty was not only possible
through cooperation with UNICEF, but by Nicaragua’s participation in intergovernmental
organizations.
Through the partnership with ALBA-TCP (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our
America - Peoples' Trade Treaty), Nicaragua has been able to garner the respect of UNICEF for
the significant strides made in guaranteeing access to a free and quality education (UN General
Assembly, 2019). These progressive strides in education, have not only been possible due to the
nation’s participation in ALBA-TCP, but due to President Ortega’s dedication to the eradication
of illiteracy in the nation. President Ortega cares deeply about the education of children in
Nicaragua and has invested great economic resources for education, which has included proper
equipment in classrooms as well as adequate training for teachers. Prior to the presidency of
Daniel Ortega in 2007, the previous administration has illiteracy rates as high as 22%, this rate
has since dropped due to President Ortega increasing the number of Child Development Centers
from a mere 32 in 2007 to more than 250 in present day. Not only are there more facilities, but
each facility is also staffed with trained teachers, this has allowed for an increase of over 200,000
students attending school (Radio Nicaragua, 2021). While there have been impressive strides in
the eradication of illiteracy, the nation of Nicaragua under the presidency of Daniel Ortega has
been focused on the eradication of the real issue impacting all children, poverty.
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The nation of Nicaragua stresses the importance of education and the eradication of illiteracy for
economic gain. Nicaragua wants to provide each member state the opportunity to mirror its
success through the participation in organizations such as ALBA-TCP that combat poverty
through the eradication of illiteracy, and the development of sustainable agriculture.
The nation of Nicaragua acknowledges the high levels of illiteracy in the OAS and
wishes to teach member states the economic benefits that can be gained with a focus on
educating children. In Latin America, 3.6 million children between the ages of 3 and 4 are not
adequately developed for their age, this is a direct result of the fact that only 6 out of 10 children
between the ages of 3 and 4 attend early education, with even less children staying in school past
early education (UNICEF, 2021). Nicaragua has seen great economic gain with the prioritization
of education, Nicaragua is keeping children in school long enough to transition to technical
schools that prioritize agriculture as well as other trades. The nation of Nicaragua has been able
to combat the issue of illiteracy with the support and aid of other ALBA-TCP member states and
stresses the importance of creating subregional groups that can work support each other to
combat illiteracy and decrease poverty while doing so.
The Government of Nicaragua cares deeply about the education of children and has spent
years combatting illiteracy in the hopes of eventual eradication. The nation of Nicaragua has
seen economic growth as a result of its efforts to eradicate illiteracy, Nicaragua in cooperation
with ALBA-TCP has made efforts to improve the quality of virtual education as well as make
virtual education accessible to all children. President Ortega has established a National Literacy
Crusade, with the goal of keeping children in school. As more children progress in their
education, they are guided towards technical education where they will be taught trades such as
agriculture. As a result of these technical schools, there has been a major improvement in
performance and production, which has already been shown to have economic benefits (Radio
Nicaragua, September 2021). The nation of Nicaragua is proof that with the prioritization of
education, there can be major economic benefits that can improve each individual member state.
Nicaragua wants nothing more than to see the success of other member states and wants to guide
other nations towards self-determination.
C: Committee: Secretariat for Multidimensional Secuirty (SMS)
The travel and tourism sector makes up one of the most vital segments of the Americas.
In addition to the immediate health risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease has also
radically altered the economic landscape of the region. The United Nations World Trade
Organization estimated a 69% reduction in tourist arrivals within the Americas in 2020, deeming
2020 as “the worst year in tourism history (UN World Tourism Organization, 2021).” Thus, it is
necessary to focus policy solutions on reactivating the tourism industry and securing sustainable,
long-term economic development.
The Twenty-Fifth Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of
Tourism convened virtually on October 6, 2021 to underscore the importance of reinvigorating
economic development within the Americas. The Ministers and High-Level Authorities of
Tourism noted how the pandemic has “disproportionately harmed” micro, small, and medium-
sized tourism enterprises of all sizes (Organization of American States, 2021). Within the
convention, member states were given a forum for “examining the nature and cost of the
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pandemic’s impact on the tourism sector” and policies to reduce the harm it has caused
(Organization of American States, 2021). Each participating member demonstrated their
commitment to collaboration in times of crisis by jointly signing the Declaration of Paraguay.
The adopted Declaration encourages protocols to standardize biosafety, the formation of public-
private partnerships, and support for tourism enterprises affected by the pandemic. Interregional
unity was placed at the forefront of the agenda, and Nicaragua has resolved to pave the way for
other countries.
One of Nicaragua’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to lead the region in promoting
cooperation and peace-making. From signing the Esquipulas Nicaraguan Peace Agreement of
1987 to being an active member of the Central American Security Commission, Nicaragua has
demonstrated a steadfast commitment to coordinating with neighboring governments in the face
of international emergencies (Isacson, 1997). COVID-19 is a multidimensional crisis that harms
economic activity and human health, highlighting an imminent need for expertise in strategic
partnerships and decisive action.
Nicaragua’s unconventional approach to managing the pandemic should be considered by
other members of the OAS. The measures implemented were taken after consulting with South
Korea and Taiwan, which had overcome separate coronavirus epidemics in 2002 (Perry, 2020).
The Government of Nicaragua stresses the importance of creating peaceful alliances with
national governments to unite against a common goal. Streetside clinics and campaigns to
combat social media misinformation were created to protect public health and minimize
economic disruption. Nicaragua boasts a triumphant COVID-19 response that has
simultaneously defended the health of the people and the economy.
The Government of Nicaragua was among the first national governments to recognize the
immediate threat posed by COVID-19. Data from the World Health Organization and the
University of Oxford suggests that the efforts were successful: Nicaragua was recognized as one
of the top ten safest countries in the world to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic (Shayron
Tower, 2021). Furthermore, the comparatively lower mortality rates from COVID-19 within the
country indicate the national government has set a precedent for other countries to follow – even
Western ones (Reuters, 2021).
Promoting economic activity and protecting public health should not be seen as mutually
exclusive objectives. Instead, they should be recognized as interconnected. For instance, it is
unlikely for citizens to consider the long-term ramifications of the pandemic when job cuts leave
them unable to feed their families. Nicaragua has reiterated its commitment to its people by
rejecting the use of draconian and impractical lockdowns. It is not necessary to choose between
public health or the economy since both are essential for securing the “health of society
(Secretaria Privada para Políticas Nacionales, 2020).”
Various reports indicate that lockdowns are not conducive to the economic activity of the
host country. The United Nations Economic and Social Council has cited concerns that
lockdowns could collapse developing economies to the extent that foreign investors would be
deemed essential to “revive” the economy (UN Economic and Social Council, 2021).
Nicaragua believes these concerns can be circumvented through carefully crafted
partnerships designed to encourage long-term economic viability. Resolving these issues means
tackling business problems endemic to the region, such as a wide vocational skills gap, to avoid
dependency on Western foreign investment. According to the World Economic Forum, as many
as 40 percent of surveyed employers across the Latin America and Caribbean region point to the
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skills gap as the principal obstacle to raising employment and boosting productivity (World
Economic Forum, 2021).
The World Economic Forum estimates that investment in “upskilling” could boost the
global GDP by $6.5 trillion by 2030. Nicaragua trusts in emerging technologies to provide online
vocational training programs to teach students the jobs of the future. Online-based modules can
elucidate the latest priorities of the tourism industry, including infection-prevention measures
and eco-tourism. Individual countries have enhanced their technical training programs to great
success: both El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have developed national initiatives with
this aim, through the Modelo Educativo Gradual de Aprendizaje Técnico y Tecnológico
(MEGATEC) and New Employment Opportunities (NEO) programs, respectively (FHI 360,
2016).
To address regional workforce disparities, the Government of Nicaragua recognizes the
urgent need for policy directed towards workforce development. In the digital age, the problem
poses an opportunity to expand cyberinfrastructure and vocational programs concurrently.
Hence, Nicaragua proposes the establishment of a special committee to oversee the development
of online skill-based programs. The committee will be chiefly concerned with the creation of
digital training modules to diversify the skill-based workforce in the hospitality and tourism
industry. The modules would be formulated in close collaboration with national governments to
standardize competencies in customer-facing and management roles. In the context of the
pandemic, online training programs will provide infection-prevention techniques to protect the
health of workers and tourists alike. By focusing on the shared goals of national governments --
economic sustainability and public health -- the proposal seeks to empower small business
owners and workers.
The Government of Nicaragua is determined to support the multidimensional wellbeing
of the Americas. COVID-19 presents an opportunity for the tourism industry in the hemisphere
to reset, build back better, and advance the financial standing of the region. We call for OAS
member states to utilize this inflection point and break the shackles of colonization through
economic independence.
D: Committee: Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA)
Democracy has strengthened the unity and the prosperity of Latin America. After decades
of dictators ruling over the beautiful lands of Latin America, with the help of imperial powers,
they were ousted by brave activists, journalists, and revolutionaries that understood that the
sovereign people of America must rule themselves. Simón Bolívar, Augusto César Sandino, and
President Daniel Ortega have lived that reality and made it their mission to prevent imperial
powers to rule over the region again.
President Ortega’s influence to create popular laws that reflect the democratic culture of
Nicaragua are examples of his devotion to that mission. The intentions of the Sandinista National
Liberation Front (FSLN) are to protect the citizens of Nicaragua. As popular and strong as these
laws may be, they cannot be allowed to remain as the first or last line of defense against
tyrannical forces that threaten to weaken the political systems of the state.
Just as the Roman gladiators were important protectors of democracy in ancient Rome,
the popularity of sports and the culture in Nicaragua are great helpers in preserving democracy
(What was the purpose, 2020). The true protector of democracy is culture, and a great helper at
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accomplishing that goal is sports. The enthusiasm for sports in Nicaragua is expanding to
encompass other sports that previously did not have large audiences. Nicaragua's most popular
sport and national sport is baseball, but soccer is as popular as well. Other pastimes, now getting
considered to become professional sports, are fishing and surfing (Davis, 2011). The various
geographical landscapes available to the Nicaraguan people allow them to participate in the
unique sports in their area.
Sports have a great impact on culture and democracy. Participating in a sport with others
naturally creates community through the shared experience of being involved in athletics. It is
even more effective in the youth, since they experience this during their formative years creating
collaboration, empathy, and confidence (Yong & Hackett-Provenzano). Sports also have
democratic themes in disguise. The notion of respecting your opponent and playing by certain
rules to have a “fair” game are two of the classic examples. The themes of discipline and
responsibility are also present in sports that can be found in contemporary themes of democracy
(Andersen, 2017)
Nicaragua’s culture is characterized by the unity of the people. Similar to other member
states of the OAS, the Nicaraguan people are family oriented, proud in their heritage, proud in
their jobs, and most importantly, they are proud to be politically engaged. Each national election
since 2001 (IFES, 2016) has had over 60% voter turnout. According to a poll done by M&R
Consultores, 75.1% of the tested population would vote in the coming election (teleSUR/capc-
MS, 2021). This is one of the most evident manners in which the Nicaraguan people portray
their enthusiasm for political participation.
At this point, the political institutions of Nicaragua are under threat of attack from inside
as well as outside. The violent protests that lasted for months in 2018 brought about violent
attacks on the enforcers and protectors of the nation (Martínez, 2021). These acts of violence
broke the stream of peace that had lasted since the 1980’s and are evidence that there needs to be
solutions to quail further acts of violence. A great solution to this issue has been law #1055, Law
to Defend the Rights of the People’s Independence, Sovereignty, and Auto determination for
Peace, makes it illegal for criminals to finance terrorists, a coup d'état and other illicit activities
that threaten the state (Machado, 2021).
The President Ortega administration has been at the forefront of the promotion of
democracy in Nicaragua. With the violent protests that broke out in 2018 that later became an
attempted to become a coup, the legislature has worked hard to create common sense legislation
to protect the country from malicious foreign intervention. Law #1040 gives the Nicaraguan
people the peace of mind that foreign investors or instigators are not able to undermine the
independence, self-determination, and national sovereignty, and the economic and political
stability of the country by financing or providing resources to organizations or persons of
Nicaragua (National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua, 2020). This law is considerate of
the ordinary citizens of Nicaragua who have moved on from their home nation and are sending
financial help or resources to their families (National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua,
2020). Law #1040 does not penalize these laudable actions. It also exempts nongovernmental
organizations and foreign companies with business purposes inside the country. This law created
a regulatory body through which foreign entities are meant to register themselves and their
funding to prevent similar violence from the 2018 protests from happening again.
Another successful legislation approved by the National Assembly that has aided to the
good fortune that Nicaragua has endured is the scrapping of presidential term limits. Aiding to
the stability needed to create a foundation for the future of Nicaragua, the Sandinista National
Republic of Nicaragua
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Liberation Front (FSLN), helped pass the constitutional amendment to give President Ortega the
opportunity to be elected for a third term (BBC, 2014). This law now gives President Ortega the
opportunity to continue for a fourth term as president in the upcoming elections this November
7th.
With the election looming closer, Nicaragua is reminded of the best democratic behaviors
that the citizens have learned to carry out. As outlined by the proud and informative La Sandino
website (2021), these practices are present in the civic engagement and dedication of the
Nicaraguan people to promote voting and social justice among communities that are least
represented: the use of multiple languages to register voters, the continued expansion of voting
cites to include remote locations, the strengthening of communal voting, the representation of
multiple political parties, the capacity and credited standard of each political party, the laws
aimed at generating 50% woman participation in the public office, the formation of a safe voting
system to ensure “one person, one vote”, the comprehensive electoral system with the capacity to
include new registered voters and to purge ineligible voters, the verification process of each
registered voter to assure they are Nicaraguan citizens, and the use of preventative measures
against COVID-19 to ensure a safe campaign against the infectious disease (Machado, 2021).
Trade agreements within the region and other allies have provided the foundation through
which Nicaragua has endured 30 years of prosperity. A key agreement, the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), which is also coupled with the People’s Trade Agreement
(TCP) is a clear example of regional unity to advance the region’s interests. These agreements
are held in regard to halt the regional dominance of the United States (bilaterals.org, 2012). This
agreement recognizes that there is a need for this sort of unity among the member states to
promote sovereignty and a supportive apparatus for the people of the region to continue to
provide the physical and cultural needs of their citizens (International Trade Organization, 2021).
The OAS has gone through great strides to embroil themselves into the democracy of
sovereign states. Their efforts do not take in consideration the plurality of cultures that span
Latin America. This attitude is reflected in the OAS creation of the Inter-American Democratic
Charter (OAS, 2009). This parliamentary body has brought the internal affairs of sovereign states
into question by a league of states that claim to be concerned of democracy or human rights.
Another creation of the OAS that has made similar strides at advancing democracy is the
School of Governance. This education center is a testament to the best efforts made by the OAS
to create an institution that is not invasive of state sovereignty. Education is the greatest tool to
continue the advancement of civilization, and this institution is charged with continuing the
political teaching of activists, community leaders, and ordinary citizens how to best continue to
serve the political institutions of their state (OAS, 2009).
These sorts of efforts are made to promote a stable Latin America that is free to pursue its
best interests with the help of the OAS. This initiative has also expanded its reach to contain
multiple courses dealing with basic public management, strengthening democracy, training about
becoming an electorate to women and has published online courses to reach a larger audience
(OAS, 2009).
In recognition of this issue, the member state of Nicaragua proposes for the OAS to
create an educational course geared towards facilitating youth political engagement through
sports and culture. As mentioned above, laws cannot be the only line of defense against the
weakening of political systems and democracy. The popularity of sports and the spotlight of
culture should be valuable tools used to bolster sovereignty and internal affairs.
Republic of Nicaragua
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This proposal would further expand the resources that the already useful OAS School of
Governance provides to the member states of Nicaragua. The functions of this educational course
would be train citizens, chosen by their respective state, to be educated in “best practices”
methodology for youth political engagement through the use of sporting and cultural events. This
course would consider the diverse cultures and different sports that are present in the OAS to
properly educate participants. Creating a successful model of engaging the youth to have
enthusiasm in their participation is imperative to the advancement of the region.
The threat of foreign entities threating the sovereignty of Nicaragua has grown in recent
years. Not to mention the most recent insult the OAS issued on October 19, 2021 to the
sovereignty of Nicaragua (Canada, 2021). The internal affairs of Nicaragua, concerning the
looming national election, are not matters of concern to the OAS. With the barbarous protests
from 2018, which were provoked and funded by foreign interests, Nicaragua has looked for
resolutions to allow the younger generation other options to voice their political opinion.
Nicaragua’s efforts at maintaining democracy and advancing are evident in the actions of
the National Assembly and the influence of President Ortega. These democratic elements are
supported by the foundations provided by the unity of the region. With the afforded trade
agreements and similar vision, the region is staving off foreign interference in domestic affairs.
However, the OAS has remained an active international actor in implementing democracy and
democratic aid in the region. One of these developments has been the School of Governance,
which has adopted many courses to aid the growth of educated civic leaders in the member states
of the OAS. To compliment this effort, the delegation of Nicaragua is proposing a course that
could compliment the teachings of the School of Governance, but with an emphasis on targeting
the younger generation using sports and cultural events.
Since the United States 2016 election, the world has witnessed the increasing role of the
internet in elections and political systems. Around the world, the internet is under the domain of
the younger generation who are experiencing the world through it. To continue the success of the
activists, scholars, and revolutionaries of the 20th century, the member states must begin passing
down the teachings that made their sacrifice worth it.
Violent protests fueled by foreign interests must be prevented at all costs. The election
systems put in place must be respected to continue the work towards stabilizing the region after
COVID-19 and other issues before it (Machado, 2021). The education of the next generation
must be done by their peers who built the foundation they grew up on.
III. CONCLUDING STATEMENTS / DECLARACIONES FINALES
The delegation of Nicaragua is pleased to advance the mission of the OAS, which has
underscored the importance of cooperativity in the Americas since its inception. As an original
and current member of the OAS, Nicaragua has continuously emphasized its commitment to the
purpose of the OAS. In recent years, the Western hemisphere has championed the rights of
people and the sovereignty of nations. Nicaragua is honored to work towards elevating these
shared values, even in times of crisis.
Nicaragua has been a regional leader in promoting peace-making and collaboration within
the Americas. History has demonstrated Nicaragua's devotion to coordinating with neighboring
governments in the face of international emergencies. Similarly, the past has shown how
interventionist policies have functioned as a mechanism for imperialist and oppressive aims.
Republic of Nicaragua
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Nicaragua will continue to facilitate positive change in the region while remaining mindful of
each member state's right to self-determination. The future of the OAS relies on the recognition
of historical triumphs and shortcomings alike; In recognizing the mutually held principles of the
region, Nicaragua remains dedicated to nonviolent, productive change within the Americas.
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