Over the past few days, Nicaragua has seen a return to the repression and violence that have scarred its past. On behalf of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, we express our solidarity with our Jesuit sister institution, the University of Central America (UCA) of Nicaragua, which calls its students to peaceful advocacy for social justice, even as government violence at the University’s gates suppresses dissent.
The UCA of Nicaragua, like all Jesuit institutions, has the mission to both provide students with professional formation and to encourage their commitment to a just, humane and environmentally sustainable world.
We add our voice to those of our Nicaraguan colleagues in urging the government to respect the constitutional rights of its citizens, starting with freedom of expression and peaceful protest. In light of the government’s concession on its Social Security proposals, we pray that all parties seize this unique opportunity to bring all legitimate interests to the table and negotiate priorities to build a more hopeful future for all segments of Nicaraguan society.
Download statement as PDF in English
Download statement as PDF in Spanish
For more information, please click on the following links to our sister Jesuit organizations’ websites: Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States; Conference of Provincials of Latin America; Jesuits of Central America. Additional information is available from America and the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
This statement was posted on the AJCU homepage on April 24, 2018.