A/HRC/RES/43/2 to alternative measures to detention, including several previously released under the Amnesty Law, Expressing concern that the broad scope of Law No. 996 (Amnesty Law) may lead to impunity for human rights violations, contrary to international law, and fail to provide adequate protections for persons released from arbitrary detention in relation to the 2018 protests, Noting that, according to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the national human rights institution of Nicaragua, the Office of the Human Rights Advocate (Procuraduria para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos), does not demonstrate the independence required by, nor act in a manner that is fully compliant with, the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), Condemning all acts of intimidation and reprisals, both online and offline, by State and non-State actors against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, or with the Organization of American States or the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Affirming that free, fair, transparent and credible elections, in accordance with international standards, are essential to a peaceful and democratic solution to the human rights crisis in Nicaragua, as is the unhindered participation of the political opposition and independent national and international electoral observers, 1. Expresses grave concern at the continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses since April 2018, and the persisting disproportionate use of force by the police to repress social protests, and acts of violence by armed groups, as well as reports of ongoing unlawful arrests and arbitrary detentions, harassment, torture and sexual and gender-based violence in detention; 2. Expresses concern at the persisting restrictions on civic space and the repression of dissent in Nicaragua targeting civil society, human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, community and religious leaders, journalists and other media workers, students, victims and their family members, and individuals expressing critical views of the Government; 3. Urges the Government of Nicaragua to respect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of association and of expression, and the independence of the media, the prosecution authority and the judiciary by authorizing peaceful and public demonstrations, restoring the legal registration of civil society organizations and independent media outlets that were cancelled, and returning seized assets; 4. Calls upon the Government of Nicaragua to cease using arbitrary arrests and arbitrary detentions or alternative measures of detention as a means to repress dissent, to release all those arbitrarily or illegally detained without condition, to guarantee due process rights, to ensure that conditions of detention have due regard to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela rules) and comply with applicable human rights obligations and standards, and to carry out prompt and impartial investigations into any allegations of extrajudicial execution, torture or ill-treatment, and take effective action against sexual and gender-based violence; 5. Urges the Government of Nicaragua to guarantee a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, and adequate conditions for them to carry out their work freely; 6. Calls upon the Government of Nicaragua to take effective measures to guarantee the independence and impartiality of the justice system and the Office of the Human Rights Advocate; 7. Urges the Government of Nicaragua to develop a comprehensive, inclusive and victim- and survivor-centred action plan for accountability, as recommended by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in her report, which would include, inter alia, prompt, thorough and transparent criminal investigations into all allegations of, 2