A/HRC/58/17 (2019–2029). In 2023, it had formulated the National Policy to Prevent Deforestation and Forest Degradation. 19. The delegation stated that Nicaragua was the safest country in Central America and the third least violent country in Latin America. The Sovereign and Public Safety Strategy had prevented drug trafficking cartels and gangs from establishing themselves in the country. Nicaragua had the lowest homicide rate in the region, half of the Central American average, at 7.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, the military was implementing the “Containment Wall” strategy for tackling drug trafficking, organized crime and related activities. 20. In 2022, Nicaragua had adopted a new National Strategic Plan for prevention, care, investigation, prosecution and punishment of the crime of trafficking in persons for the period 2023–2027, building on the 2018–2022 plan. 21. Discrimination on the grounds of “sexual choice” was punished and hate crimes carried the maximum penalty of life imprisonment with possibility of review. The National Prison Service and the National Police had specialized protocols to safeguard the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. 22. Regarding the right to freedom of expression, civil society organizations were able to carry out their work without violating the national legal order. The independence and pluralism of the media was respected, in accordance with the Constitution. In Nicaragua, there were 294 radio stations, 26 free-to-air television stations, mainly managed by private entities, with the exception of the two State-owned media outlets. 23. To guarantee the right to elect and be elected, in keeping with the principle of gender parity, several legislative reforms had been carried out during the period under review. They included: (a) the establishment of appeal procedures in the electoral process; (b) the introduction of a ban on foreign financing of political parties, alliances of parties and candidates; (c) the introduction of procedures for changing political affiliation; (d) the introduction of measures to strengthen coordination among the Supreme Electoral Council, municipal registries, municipal authorities and the Registry of Persons; and (e) the use of new technologies to streamline and modernize electoral procedures. 24. In 2021, the people of Nicaragua had elected Daniel Ortega Saavedra as President of the Republic and Rosario Murillo as Vice-President following four orderly and peaceful elections. Moreover, 90 deputies and alternates had been elected to the National Assembly and 20 deputies and alternates had been elected to the Central American Parliament. The elections had been monitored by 232 observers from 27 accredited countries, 1,300 national observers and more than 7,700 electoral procurators. In 2022, 153 men and women mayors had been elected, and in the 2024 regional elections, 180 members had been elected to the Councils of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean coast. 25. Since 2007, the Government had pursued its foreign and international cooperation policy on the basis of the principles of freedom, independence, sovereignty, national security, self-determination, dignity, respect, unity and solidarity, with all the peoples and governments of the world. The Government promoted and defended respect for the principles governing international law and compliance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. That involved respecting the sovereign equality of States and refraining from interference in internal affairs, from the use of force or the threat of the use of force and from the imposition of unilateral or illegal coercive measures. 26. The delegation reaffirmed the Government’s political will and genuine commitment to continue to ensure the enjoyment of human rights by the entire population of Nicaragua, based on principles of Christianity, socialism and solidarity. National peace and stability, which were the basis for the gradual advancement of all human rights, had been achieved for the people of Nicaragua thanks to the joint efforts of all sectors that loved the Nicaraguan nation. 4 GE.24-23484