[WHRD Alert] NICARAGUA / Arbitrary detention of Thelma Montenegro, member of Asociación Madres de Abril

In a statement, Asociación Madres de Abril (AMA) denounced that Thelma Montenegro, woman defender and member of the organization, has been deprived of her liberty since 23 August after being arbitrarily detained for the second time within one week. The first detention took place on 19 August, when the woman defender went to renew her license. She remained in custody at the Pantasma Police Station until the afternoon of 22 August, when she was released. The second detention took place at her home, when a police patrol arrived to take her away. It was only two days later, on 25 August, that her family was informed that Thelma had been transferred to Managua.

According to AMA, Thelma Montenegro is the sister of Oliver and Edgard Montenegro and the widow of Francisco Blandón, who were allegedly killed by paramilitaries in 2019. The woman defender has demanded processes of truth and justice for her family members. Other members of her family (Dorlin and Oliver Montenegro) were jailed from 2020 to 2023.

Asociación Madres de Abril (Mothers of April Association - AMA) is a key entity that emerged in the context of the socio-political and human rights crisis that the country is going through. For this reason, since its creation, it has been systematically targeted by attacks from the neoliberal, corrupt and totalitarian regime imposed by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Between 2020 and the first half of 2026, we registered 304 attacks against AMA members, including surveillance, harassment, raids and arbitrary detentions.

IM-Defensoras joins AMA’s demand that Thelma Montenegro be immediately released and that clear official information be provided regarding her judicial situation and whereabouts. We hold the State of Nicaragua and police authorities responsible for any violation of the woman defender’s physical and moral integrity.

Furthermore, with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance just a few days away, we demand an end to arbitrary detentions, harassment, and persecution against AMA members and against those who defend memory, truth, and justice in Nicaragua.

Finally, we call on the international community to stand in solidarity with AMA and to join the call for the woman defender’s release.

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