Recognition of same-sex unions in Nicaragua

Nicaragua does not currently recognise same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Civil unions

Nicaragua recognises de facto unions (uniones de hecho) for cohabiting opposite-sex couples. Article 83 of the Family Code defines de facto unions as "a voluntary agreement between a man and a woman". Couples in these unions are offered the same rights as married couples, but are required to have lived together for at least two years in a "stable and notorious manner". ^[1] Ramón Rodríguez, professor of criminal law and human rights at the Central American University, argues that the provisions "establishing marriage and stable de facto unions as between a man and a woman only constitute a violation of the universal principle of equality and non-discrimination". ^[2]

Same-sex marriage

Background

Homosexuality laws in Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

  Same-sex marriage

  Other type of partnership

  Unregistered cohabitation

  Country subject to IACHR ruling

  No recognition of same-sex couples

  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples

  Same-sex sexual activity illegal but law not enforced

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Article 72 of the Constitution of Nicaragua states that: ^[3]

Marriage and stable unions are protected by the State; they rest on the voluntary agreement between a man and a woman, and may be dissolved by mutual consent or by the shall of one of the parties. The law shall regulate this matter. ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

In 2012, responding to a request from human rights groups to discuss the legalisation of same-sex marriage, a deputy from the Sandinista National Liberation Front said "they had to wait another 30 years for that to happen". ^[7]

In June 2014, the Nicaraguan Congress approved a revised family code limiting marriage, de facto unions and adoption to heterosexual couples. The new code went into effect on 8 April 2015. ^[8] Article 53 of the Family Code describes marriages as "a voluntary union between a man and a woman". ^[1]

2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling

On January 9, 2018, in advisory opinion OC 24/7, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that countries signatory to the American Convention on Human Rights are required to allow same-sex couples to marry. ^{[9] [10]} The ruling states that: ^{[11] [12]}

The State must recognize and guarantee all rights derived from a family bond between persons of the same sex in accordance with the provisions of Articles 11.2 and 17.1 of the American Convention. (...) in accordance with articles 1.1, 2, 11.2, 17, and 24 of the American Convention, it is necessary to guarantee access to all the existing figures in domestic legal systems, including the right to marry. (..) To ensure the protection of all the rights of families formed by same-sex couples, without discrimination with respect to those that are constituted by heterosexual couples.

Nicaragua ratified the American Convention on Human Rights on 25 September 1979 and recognized the court's jurisdiction on 12 February 1991. ^[13] The ruling sets binding precedent for Nicaraguan courts. LGBT groups applauded the decision. The Mexican newspaper Milenio reported that the ruling came as a "shock" to LGBT activists. ^[14] Ludwica Lega, head of the Nicaraguan Trans Association, said he was "happy" with the decision, but that "in the case of Nicaragua we are focused on priority issues such as improving the Health Law, to end discrimination, full access to education, and recognition of gender identity." The Government of Nicaragua never issued a formal response to the ruling, but activists and lawyers believe the country is now required to recognise same-sex marriage per its international obligations.

Public opinion

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between 9 November and 13 December 2013, 77% of Nicaraguans opposed same-sex marriage, 16% were in favor and 7% were undecided. ^{[15] [16]}

The 2017 AmericasBarometer showed that 24.5% of Nicaraguans supported same-sex marriage. ^[17]

A survey published by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development in January 2021 showed that 29% of Nicaraguans supported same-sex marriage. ^[18]

See also

• LGBT rights in Nicaragua
• Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas

Notes

1. In Spanish: El matrimonio y la unión de hecho estable están protegidos por el Estado; descansan en el acuerdo voluntario del hombre y la mujer y podrán disolverse por el mutuo consentimiento o por la voluntad de una de las partes. La ley regulará esta materia. ^[4]
   In Miskito: Upla Marit taki wal bri ba ban kasak kaina sunanka brisa kuntri bui; baha ba bara sa waitna bara mairin wal wilin bara sipsa wal dakbi sakaia wal aikupia laka kaka apia kaka maya kum baman luki sa kaka. ^[5]
   In Mayangna: Marit lani dawak muih yalni kapat duwi yalahwa kidika Gabamint parasni yaklauwi tanitdakwa ki; kidika laih, al dawak yal karak yulbauwi wilin kalahwi kulnin aslah barangni kalalahna ki, dawak sip karak dakwi kalahnin witinna kulninna lani kat, awaskat as yaklauwi kapat yulwarang kat. La yaklauwi adika dini laihwi yamna karang. ^[6]

References

1. "Código de Familia" (PDF). www.refworld.org (in Spanish).
2. "En Nicaragua solo se permite el matrimonio heterosexual". El Comercio (in Spanish). 22 April 2015.
3. "Nicaragua's Constitution of 1987 with Amendments through 2005" (PDF). constituteproject.org.
4. "Constitución Política de la República de Nicaragua" (PDF). Asamblea Nacional (in Spanish).
5. "Kuntri Wauhkataya Tara". Asamblea Nacional. (in Miskito).
6. "Mayang Gaceta – Gabamint Mabani Tingnita Ulwi Yakwa" (PDF). www.poderjudicial.gob.ni.
7. "Comunidad LGBTI+ en Nicaragua, perseguida, silenciada y usada para fines políticos". Expediente Público (in Spanish). 28 June 2021.
8. "Nicaragua rechaza que parejas del mismo sexo contraigan matrimonio o adopten niños". Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
9. Pretel, Enrique Andres (January 10, 2018). "Latin American human rights court urges same-sex marriage legalization". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
10. Chinchilla, Sofía; Cambronero, Natasha (January 9, 2018). "Corte Interamericana ordena abrir la puerta al matrimonio gay en Costa Rica" (in Spanish). La Nación. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
11. "Opinión Consultiva OC-24/17 de 24 de Noviembre de 2017 Solicitada por la República de Costa Rica" (PDF) (in Spanish). Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
12. Contesse, Jorge (July 26, 2018). "The Inter-American Court of Human Rights' Advisory Opinion on Gender Identity and Same-Sex Marriage". American Society of International Law. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
13. "Annual Report of the IACHR 2001 - Annex III". cidh.org (in Spanish).
14. "Nicaragua, sin leyes que reconozcan comunidad LGBTI". Milenio (in Spanish). 10 January 2018.
15. "Social Attitudes on Moral Issues in Latin America". Pew Research Center. 13 November 2014.
16. "Appendix A: Methodology". Pew Research Center. 13 November 2014.
17. "CULTURA POLÍTICA DE LA DEMOCRACIA EN LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA Y EN LAS AMÉRICAS, 2016/17" (PDF).
18. (in Spanish) Cultura Política de la Democracia en la República Dominicana y en las Américas, 2016/17