Miskitu lawyer Anexa Alfred Cunningham, a human rights defender exiled by Nicaragua’s regime, has assumed the presidency of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples a historic moment for Indigenous representation.
While the Sandinista regime forces Caribbean loyalists into public offices to legitimize policies that oppress Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, Alfred has chosen a different path: resistance from exile, standing firm with her community’s principles and their collective fight for land, identity, and self-determination.
In her UN role, Alfred will advise governments and Indigenous communities worldwide, amplifying long-silenced voices from regions like Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast.
“I take on this presidency as a collective mandate. I do not stand alone: I carry with me my Miskitu people, the ancestral wisdom of our elders, the memories, resistance, and hopes of my community and Indigenous peoples worldwide. My commitment remains unshakable to fight for justice, land, territory, identity, and self-determination for all Indigenous peoples.” Anexa Alfred
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