Fighting a legal battle in Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan government is threatening privatisation of water resources. This, combined with deforestation and climate change, is threatening the right to water for many Nicaraguans.

Over the past 25 years, many water sources have been drying out, including more than 30 rivers. Those that are left have a reduced water volume. Deforestation and expansion of agricultural land has brought on local climate change resulting in decreased rainfall. When rain does fall it is quickly lost in runoff and does not reach the communities who need it.

In parallel to these environmental problems, the government wants to privatise Nicaragua's water supply companies through a public bidding processes, with the alleged aim to modernise the country.

Civil society groups are objecting to privatisation as a solution to Nicaragua 's water shortage. Movimiento Ambientalista Mesoamericano is taking legal action on behalf of communities with no water. Since 2003, together with social and environmental movements, they have been developing partnerships and alliances against the signing of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), specifically against the privatisation of water. They have successfully stopped the privatisation of Lake Apanas and are now lobbying against the building of the Copular dam, which would displace over 18,000 people.

Movimiento Ambientalista Mesoamericanois run a legal office named “Environmentalists 4th of May”, an Association of Democratic Jurists of Nicaragua. Since 1990 it has taken forward cases on damages to the environment and natural resources including the right to water.

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