Excerpts of Speech of Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco J. Sanchez at Honduras is Open for Business Conference

May 5, 2011

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Honduras’s business climate does not exist in a vacuum.  For countries to be prosperous, they must maintain a positive investment climate, and this means combating poverty, improving education and health standards, strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights; it means fighting crime and providing a safe environment citizens and businesses.

I am particularly encouraged by the steps taken by the government of President Lobo to promote and protect human rights.  I would note in particular the invitation by President Lobo to have the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visit and open an office in Honduras as well as the establishment of the Secretariat of State for Justice and Human Rights and the Secretariat of State for Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Hondurans.

Protection of individual human rights requires a constant and firm commitment by governments and requires a willingness to fully investigate allegations and to bring the guilty to justice.  Investors in any country want to feel secure that there is respect for human rights and labor rights and that labor laws are up to internationally acknowledged standards.  Challenges remain to ensure that all Hondurans’ human rights are fully respected, but these are two of the encouraging actions being taken in Honduras.

From improving regional economic security to combating poverty, improving education and health standards, we must all work together.  Strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights, increasing our ability to fight transnational crime and providing a safe environment for all our citizens –these are the common objectives to which we should commit ourselves.