For over 15 months, Carmen and Lesbia’s whereabouts were unconfirmed. Their families had no proof that they were even alive. Then, just before Christmas, we heard the news that they had been released from maximum security prison to house arrest. It’s not over yet, but we give thanks that prayers are being answered. 

You may remember that Carmen and Lesbia (Roman Catholic lay leaders) were targeted as part of a wider crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Nicaragua. It was part of the government’s ongoing attempts to silence criticism and all independent voices. 

But our voices could not be silenced. Together we raised a collective call for answers: Where are they? And now we can say with certainty: We know where they are. 

Released to house arrest 

Carmen and Lesbia were among a small group of political prisoners released into house arrest on Saturday 29 November. While they are still not free – despite not being charged with anything – this is without doubt an improvement on solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison. 

Before this breakthrough, we did not know for sure if Carmen and Lesbia were even alive. Their families had had no contact with them for nearly 16 months. We believed they were in La Esperanza maximum-security prison, but the Nicaraguan authorities had provided no information of their whereabouts – not even a proof of life. 

Responding in action 

Hundreds of people like you refused to stay silent after Carmen and Lesbia were detained on 10 August 2024. You emailed 306 Members of UK Parliament about their case – some of them multiple times. We then took the ‘Where are they?’ campaign to Wildfires Festival in July, where 165 people wrote to the UK Foreign Secretary after hearing what had happened to these women. Meanwhile, CSW supporters in the United States sent messages to 11 Members of Congress. Thank you!

Alongside your actions and prayers, our advocates were busy briefing international authorities. This included the UK government, the Irish government, US government officers in Washington, DC and Costa Rica, and policymakers at the European Union. We also delivered oral statements at the UN Human Rights Council in February, March and September 2025. 

We have been consistently briefing the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), who added Carmen and Lesbia to their FoRB Victims List. This is important recognition that what these women are suffering is a violation of freedom of religion or belief. Numerous press releases, blogs and media articles helped drive awareness of their case and call for answers. Now we are relieved to know where they are, but it’s not over yet. Thank you for standing with Carmen and Lesbia, and many others like them, for as long as it takes. 

15 months and counting. 

Your support enabled us to speak out for Carmen and Lesbia through 15 months of silence and uncertainty. We want to continue supporting them until they are fully free. Visit csw.org.uk/donate to fuel CSW’s work in Nicaragua and around the world.

Pray:

Please pray for the release of all those unjustly detained in Nicaragua. Prison conditions are inhumane, and in August two political prisoners died within the space of a week. Some families may be too fearful to speak out about the injustice their loved ones are facing.