Eirene Suisse has been supporting the work of NGO Mary Barreda in Nicaragua since 2022. The latter combats gender-based and sexual violence, commercial sexual exploitation, and prostitution. Eirene Suisse supports the Mary Barreda team with strategic planning and institutional reinforcement of its projects.
Since a national foreign agents law was passed in October 2020, the Nicaraguan authorities have drastically restricted the scope for action of civil society. Several thousand non-governmental organizations have been forced to close, with long-term impacts on social services and the jobs associated with these structures, while also emphasizing the distrust of the voluntary sector and migration flows.
In light of this, Mary Barreda has had to rethink how it operates. With areas for public expression being limited and subjects linked to women’s rights sometimes viewed as subversive, continuing to support local initiatives in this restrictive environment without creating misunderstandings that could lead to the closure of spaces for collaboration with the government, or even of the organization itself, requires creativity and flexibility.
The new strategies are based on balancing caution and impact. Work is thus carried out discreetly and flexibly, meaning the association has revised its strategy and communication. Consequently, only low-visibility activities such as community training, psycho-legal support, or economic empowerment of women in vulnerable situations are conducted. The association continues to address profound current challenges, while continuing to operate within a scope that is acceptable to local authorities. Advocacy campaigns are more restrained and targeted, and are often incorporated into educational or community activities in order to ensure the safety of both the team and beneficiaries. In addition, terminology that is sensitive to the political context has been adopted, for example “promoting human rights” rather than “defending human rights.”
Mary Barreda is also working to strengthen its relationship with community leaders, with some having a political role connected to its projects. These links enable the association to maintain a local presence and conduct its activities, while also protecting those involved in its projects. Since authoritarian state control increased in 2024, it has become necessary to form alliances and maintain regular contact with governmental institutions in order to ensure a secure framework and continuity of activities.
Despite these efforts to adapt, challenges remain: Numerous backers are withdrawing from Nicaragua due to the political situation, fatigue among personnel, administrative complexity, and in particular the constant fear of seeing the organizations that are still active being forced to close. What continues to work is the human connection: trust, solidarity in daily life, and the ability to adapt. Diversifying sources of funding is now vital to the survival of civil society organizations. The Mary Barreda team is stepping up its creativity to meet current and future challenges.