Honduran Government Actions on Human Rights

September 29, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since taking office on January 27, 2010, President Porfirio Lobo has taken a series of actions for the promotion and protection of human rights in Honduras.  Among these actions, the following are particularly noteworthy:

• Creation of the position in the executive branch of Special Advisor on Human Rights.
• Creation of the Secretariat of State for Justice and Human Rights.
• Approval of a Joint Action Plan between the Secretariat of State of Security and the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights to promote the investigation of allegations of human rights violations.
• Training on human rights for the National Police.
• The creation in the Secretariat of State of Security of a special investigation unit for human rights violations.
• Assignment of a group of investigators to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in the Public Ministry.
• Introduction in the National Congress of the allocation of funds in the budget for the Public Ministry for the capacity building of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights.
• Public event in recognition of the international responsibility of the state in compliance with the sentence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case “Blanca Jeannette Kawas Fernandez vs. Honduras.”
• Compliance of the sentence of the Inter American Court of Human Rights in the case “Servellon Garcia and Others vs. Honduras.”
• Implementation of 248 precautionary measures decreed by the Inter American Court of Human Rights duly agreed to with the beneficiaries.
• Invitation to international human rights organizations of the Inter American system and of the United Nations to send missions to verify in situ and without any restriction the human rights situation in Honduras.
• Invitation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to open an office in Honduras.
• Functioning of with support from the executive branch of the inter-institutional commission that answers on behalf of the state of Honduras the various communications and formal correspondence from international human rights organizations.
• The creation of the National Committee and Advisory Council against Torture; Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, in compliance with the Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishments.
• Training of the police in criminal investigation techniques and respect for human rights.
• Request for technical assistance to the governments of the United States of America, Spain and Colombia to more effectively investigate the deaths of journalists.
• Issuance of four arrest warrants in the cases of journalists’ killings; apprehension and prosecution of two suspects.
• Approval of an executive decree authorizing the Secretariat of State of Security to improve the infrastructure of prisons in order to comply with the recommendation of the United Nations subcommittee on this matter.
• Execution of measures towards the eradication of child labor.
• The repeal of executive decree 124-2009, enacted by the de facto regime, which restricted the right to freedom of the press, speech and access to information.
• Proposal to the National Congress for the creation of a “Secretariat for the Development of Indigenous Peoples and those of African Descent and Racial Equality Policies”, to combat all forms of discrimination.
• 476 arrest warrants of capture have been executed against members of the National Police accused of committing crimes, including violations of human rights in the current year.
• 27 members of the National Police have been suspended for their suspected participation in the commission of crimes, including violations of human rights (purging).
• Presentation on time of the Universal Periodic Review Report before the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.