NINE WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS - Nicaragua

Ana María Pizarro, Juanita Jiménez, Luisa Molina Arguello, Marta María Blandón, Martha Munguía, Mayra Sirias, Violeta Delgado, Yamileth Mejía and Lorna Norori are women's rights defenders. They belong to various organisations that work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse; promote sexual health and promote the rights of women, children and young people.

They are facing legal proceedings for their involvement in the case of a nine-year-old girl who was raped and made pregnant in 2003 and obtained a legal abortion in Nicaragua. In October 2007 a non-governmental organisation backed by the Roman Catholic Church lodged a complaint against the nine, accusing them of concealment of rape, crimes against the administration of justice and other misdemeanours. We fear that the complaint is because of the women's human rights work and their activism to ensure the right of women and girls to safe and effective sexual and reproductive health services.

Download a case sheet for the nine women's human rights defenders (PDF)

Please send a non-religious card via a nicaraguan non-governmental organisation:

[Names of the nine women] a/c CENIDH
Texaco de Montoya
1 1/2 Cuadra al sur
Managua
Nicaragua

Language - Spanish or English
Salutation - Dear [Names of the women]
Suggested message - 'I am writing to you in solidarity. Your friends in the UK support you in your valuable work for human rights'.
Translated message - 'Les escribo en solidaridad.Sus amigos de Reino Unido les apoyan en su valioso trabajo en favor de los derechos humanos.'

Can I:
send a religious card or message? No
send an Amnesty card or mention Amnesty? Yes
include my name and address? No
first name and town only? Yes

Please don't make political comments in your message.

If you'd like to get together with some friends and send cards as a group we've prepared some time savers for you. Below you can download address labels and the translated solidarity message in Spanish to save you doing them all by hand.

Need address labels? Download them for L1763 size labels (Word)

Want to send your message in Spanish? Download a translated message (Word)