Nicaragua: An ombudswoman for sexual diversity

[Louisiana1976]

MANAGUA, Dec 15 (IPS) - At last, homosexuals in Nicaragua have someone to uphold their rights: an ombudswoman for sexual diversity has been appointed to defend the rights of the gay community, estimated to number half a million people.

The new ombudswoman's office started work this month with the remit to "recognise the constitutional rights and duties of all citizens, whatever their sexual orientation, as universal rights which must be respected," human rights ombudsman Omar Cabezas told IPS.

The person appointed to the new post is María Samira Montiel, a young lawyer who has been an activist in the lesbian movement in Nicaragua for the past decade, and who has a high profile because of her campaigns against abuses and discrimination against people with different sexual identities.

This Central American country of 5.7 million people is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere after Haiti. And although constitutionally it is a secular state, the Catholic Church has an extremely strong influence, to the point that abortion is illegal under all circumstances, even when the mother's life is at risk, and homosexuality was regarded as a crime punishable by imprisonment until 2008.

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