Breaking down in order to rebuild
Analysing human rights progress, challenges and opportunities in the first 100 days of Honduras’s new President
In January 2022, Honduras swore in Xiomara Castro as their first female and left wing president, promising real change for a country with a poverty rate of 74%. Her LIBRE party’s campaign had promised to reform Honduras and create a socialist and democratic state, outlining clear objectives to fight against corruption, empower women and LGBTQI+ groups, and protect the territories, languages and cultures of Indigenous and Afro-Descendant groups.
After years as one of the world’s most dangerous countries to stand up for rights and the environment, a cautious hope was expressed by the local human rights defenders who have bravely continued to defend their rights through non-violent activism, despite the daily persecution they have faced. To mark Castro’s first 100 days in office, PBI Honduras together with 8 of these organisations, analysed the progress, challenges and opportunities faced by her government.
Gender: Nothing about us, without us
Honduras is the most dangerous country in Latin America for women. According to the Women’s Rights Centre (Centro de Derechos de la Mujer CDM), at least 342 women were killed in Honduras in 2021 and over 95% of femicide cases remain in impunity. This flagrant misogyny was obvious even during Castro’s electoral campaign, in which she faced gender-based political violence. Yet her “Nothing about us, without us” campaign for women’s rights was integral to her victory. In April, the new government began to socialise and analyse the Comprehensive Law for the Eradication of Violence against Women which aims to not only tackle the causes of violence, but also to strengthen the existing institutions that work on this issue. The organisations interviewed for this report stress that Honduras still has a lot of work to do in order to best support women. For example, they must introduce a protocol to protect and support survivors of sexual violence and reform legislation regarding the sexual and reproductive health of women.
Fight against corruption and abuses of power
Castro has a long battle ahead to regain the population’s trust. A 2020 Latinobarometro survey showed that a mere 11% of respondents trusted the national government. These results are unsurprising following cases such as the Pandora case which investigated 38 state officials for misappropriation of funds and other charges. In response, Castro’s government prioritised confronting corruption in their campaign, and have worked quickly to extradite ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez to the US following accusations of drug trafficking. Moreover, Castro has called on the international community to support the establishment of a UN commission to investigate cases of corruption; in May 2022, the verification mission began their analysis. Local and international experts have repeatedly made the argument that strong institutions and effective governance based on the rule of law are essential for achieving sustainable development and for regaining the trust of the people of Honduras. It is one of the key factors that Castro’s time in government will be judged upon.
Land rights, the environment and defenders
Castro’s 2022-26 plan clearly states the importance of the environment to the people of Honduras, stating that the country must transform how it lives with nature. Located in the “dry corridor”, an area prone to drought, Honduras is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of the climate crisis, which has further intensified through deforestation and land-mining. In February, Castro’s government declared a ban on open-pit mining and promised to revise all existing mining licenses. The organisations interviewed for this report urge the international community to call on Honduras to sign and ratify the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (The Escazú Agreement). Escazú is the first environmental accord for Latin America with specific measures to protect environmental defenders and aims to establish mechanisms for access to information on environmental issues, participation in decision-making, and protection for those affected by environmental damage.
While there are many challenges, Castro’s election has brought hope to those defending Human Rights in Honduras. Nevertheless, the role of journalists, women’s rights defenders, indigenous leaders, environmentalists, LGBTIQ+ activists and human rights organisations will be crucial in monitoring progress and holding officials to account. PBI is committed to stand alongside these human rights defenders every step of the way.
Read the report in full here.
