According to La Noticia, a daily newspaper published in Managua, the first Comisarías de la Mujer y la Niñez (commissariats for women and children) were established in 1993 as part of a pilot project, and have since become a structural program (program estructural) within the national police force (29 Aug. 1999). According to a 1999 report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the commissariats are mandated to "provide specialized attention in cases of physical, psychological and sexual violence against women and children."

In its report, the UNDP also stated that there are currently 14 commissariats for women and children in Nicaragua. However, in correspondence dated 6 March 2000, a member of the Legal and Commissariat Commission of the Red de Mujeres contra la Violencia (Women's Anti-Violence Network), a Managua-based non-governmental organization, stated that there are currently 13 commissariats for women and children at the national level. Three of the commissariats are in Managua: one in District Five, one in Ciudad Sandino and one in Tipitapa (ibid.). Others are located in the departments of Masaya, León, Estelí, Ocotal, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Boaco, Chontales, Chinandega and Bluefields (ibid.).

According to La Noticia, the commissariats contribute significantly to the prevention of violence against women and children and to the care of victims of sexual and physical violence (29 Aug. 1999). La Noticia also stated, citing a report by the National Police, that the commissariats received 9,220 complaints in 1998, up from 7,533 in 1997 (ibid.). However, according to the member of the Legal and Commissariat Commission:

It should be noted that the operations of these Comisarías have been funded by international cooperation agencies, and that financing for the second three-year phase has not yet been approved. This restricts the implementation of a comprehensive care model that ensures the rehabilitation of victims and a quality response to complaints filed (6 Mar. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

La Noticia [Managua]. 29 August 1999. Mario Antiono Zelaya. "Acontece jurídico." http://www.lanoticia.com.ni/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2000]

Red de Mujeres contra la Violencia, Managua. 6 March 2000. Correspondence from member of the Legal and Commissariat Commission. Translated by the Multilingual Translation Directorate of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 1999. "National Reports: Nicaragua." http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender/nicaragua.htm [Accessed 29 Feb. 2000]