Diakonia supports organisations working with democratization efforts that are focused on the empowerment of civil society institutions, especially those who carry out advocacy initiatives towards local governments and central authorities.

Human rights

Diakonia also focuses its support on the defense and protection of human rights through partners specialized in legal matters, giving extra attention to the rights of women and the collective rights of indigenous peoples from the Caribbean coast. 

Rights of women

The protection of the specific rights of women is a priority subject that has been incorporated into the organisations agendas, and it has been visualized during the last few years in campaigns for the restitution of therapeutic abortion right, and in the initiatives for the prevention of violence towards women.

Unemployment and poverty

Nicaragua has a population of six million people and is situated in the middle of the Americas. Sixty per cent of its population lives on two dollars a day or less and many survive by taking jobs in the informal sector. The high unemployment rates have resulted in the emigration of one fifth of the population. Many Nicaraguans lack access to basic services such as health and education.

Support to civil society organizations for democratic strengthening

The process of democratic strengthening has always been complex due to the political polarization of the governments in power. The aspiration of the Sandinista government to run for a third term developed into a strategy of total control of state institutions by the party. By late 2011, Daniel Ortega of the Sandinista party was reelected president for another five-year term.

Jonathan "The Dog" Rodriguez in Nicaragua is an enthusiast with a passion for offering the young people in Nicaragua a better future: "Before, I had no dreams. The only thing that awaited me was a bullet" says Jonathan. Today he is active in Diakonia partner organization Ceprev, and fighting persistently to get other young people to leave violence behind. Photo: Jon Restpo