Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua 1987, as amended to 2021
Customary Law
  • English


    The Communities of the Caribbean Coast have the right to preserve and to develop their cultural identity within the national unity; to be granted their own forms of social organization, and to administer their local affairs in accordance with their traditions.
    ... (Art. 89)

  • Spanish


    Las comunidades de la Costa Caribe tienen el derecho de preservar y desarrollar su identidad cultural en la unidad nacional; dotarse de sus propias formas de organización social y administrar sus asuntos locales conforme a sus tradiciones.
    … (Art. 89)

Customary Law
  • English

    The administration of justice guarantees the principle of legality; it protects [protege] and protects [tutela] the human rights, and guarantees the access to justice through the application of the law in the matters and processes of its competence.
    The administration of justice recognizes citizen participation through the traditional leaders of the original Peoples of the Caribbean Coast and the Judicial Facilitators [Facilitadores Judiciales] in all the country, as alternative methods of access to justice and alternative resolution of conflicts, all in accordance with the law.
    ... (Art. 160)

  • Spanish

    La administración de la justicia garantiza el principio de la legalidad; protege y tutela los derechos humanos, y garantiza el acceso a la justicia mediante la aplicación de la ley en los asuntos o procesos de su competencia.
    La administración de justicia reconoce la participación ciudadana a través de los líderes tradicionales de los pueblos originarios de la Costa Caribe y los Facilitadores Judiciales en todo el país, como métodos alternos de acceso a la justicia y resolución alterna de conflictos, todo de conformidad con la ley.
    … (Art. 160)

Customary Law
  • English

    The communities of the Caribbean Coast have the inalienable right to live and to develop themselves under the political-administrative, social and cultural form of organization that correspond to their historic and cultural traditions.
    The members of the Autonomous Regional Councils will be elected by the People through universal, equal, direct, free and secret suffrage for a term [periodo] of five years, in accordance with the law.
    The State guarantees to these communities the benefits of their natural resources, the effectiveness of their forms of community ownership and the free election of their authorities and representatives.
    In the same way, it guarantees the preservation of their cultures and languages, religions and customs. (Art. 180)

  • Spanish

    Las comunidades de la Costa Caribe tienen el derecho inalienable de vivir y desarrollarse bajo la forma de organización político-administrativa, social y cultural que corresponde a sus tradiciones históricas y culturales.
    Los miembros de los Consejos Regionales Autónomos serán elegidos por el pueblo mediante el sufragio universal, igual, directo, libre y secreto por un período de cinco años, de conformidad con la ley.
    El Estado garantiza a estas comunidades el disfrute de sus recursos naturales, la efectividad de sus formas de propiedad comunal y la libre elección de sus autoridades y representantes.
    Asimismo, garantiza la preservación de sus culturas y lenguas, religiones y costumbres. (Art. 180)

1

Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua 1987, as amended to 2021 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024). According to Art. 11: “Spanish is the official language of the State. ...”

Links to all sites last visited 16 April 2024
3

Chapter II on Constitutional Control.

4

Chapter II on Constitutional Control.