[HNA] Fwd: [Presente-Honduras] IAHRC report on Honduras
Michelle Fuentes
michelle.fuentes at gmail.com
Wed May 19 14:07:20 PDT 2010
*PRESS RELEASE*
*N° 54/10*
*IACHR CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN HONDURAS*
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May 19, 2010 — The Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights (IACHR) visited Honduras May 15-18 to follow up on its on-site visit
of August 2009 and its report *Honduras: Human Rights and the Coup d’État*.
The delegation was composed of IACHR Chair Felipe González, First Vice-Chair
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Executive Secretary Santiago A. Canton, Special
Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Catalina Botero, and staff of the
Executive Secretariat.
The IACHR met with officials from all three branches of the State, human
rights defenders, journalists, civil society representatives, and members of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It also met with representatives of
the United Nations system in Honduras and with ambassadors from the
Stockholm Declaration Follow-Up Group (G 16). The Commission’s report on the
visit will be made public in the near future.
In concluding its visit, the Commission expresses its deep concern over the
continuation of human rights violations in the context of the coup d’état
that took place in Honduras on June 28, 2009. Without prejudice to the
progress made toward the restoration of democratic institutions, the IACHR
and the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression have
received information about the murders of a number of persons, including
journalists and human rights defenders. The IACHR and the Office of the
Special Rapporteur have expressed their deep concern over the absence of
effective investigations that could lead to the clarification of these
events. Without prejudice to the high rate of criminality that in general
exists in Honduras, the IACHR believes that the complaints received could
correspond to the same pattern of violence that the IACHR reported in
*Honduras:
Human Rights and the Coup d’État*, published on January 20, 2010.
The IACHR also received information on the threats and acts of harassment
that human rights defenders, journalists, communicators, teachers, and
members of the Resistance have received. A number of teachers have been
subject to threats and harassment because of their activity against the coup
d’état. The Commission also received information about threats and attacks
directed against journalists to keep them from continuing to do their jobs.
Since the coup d’état, the IACHR has granted precautionary measures to
protect the lives and integrity of many individuals who are in a situation
of risk. During the visit, the IACHR received information indicating that
the inter-institutional coordination mechanism for the implementation of the
precautionary measures is ineffective. It is essential that the
Inter-Institutional Commission on Human Rights be provided with adequate
staffing and sufficient resources so it can respond efficiently to the
Commission’s precautionary measures.
Of particular concern are the acts of harassment directed against judges who
participated in activities against the coup d’état. The Commission met with
members of the Association of Judges for Democracy who were dismissed from
their posts by the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ). Notwithstanding the
formal reasons that could be argued by the Supreme Court, the reasons that
motivated the process and the final decision are undoubtedly linked to
participation in anti-coup demonstrations or to having expressed an opinion
against the coup d’état. The inter-American human rights system has
repeatedly underscored the central role of the judiciary in the functioning
of a democratic system. It is unacceptable that those persons in charge of
administering justice who were opposed to the democratic rupture would face
accusations and dismissals for defending democracy. The IACHR urgently calls
for a reversal of this situation that seriously undermines the rule of law.
The Commission was able to verify that impunity for human rights violations
continues, both in terms of violations verified by the IACHR and the UN
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and those that continue to
occur. The Commission was informed that only one person is being held in
custody for human rights violations, only 12 have been charged, and the
cases are not moving forward, among other reasons due to the lack of
investigation by the various State bodies, particularly the security forces
handling the investigations. The generalized impunity for human rights
violations is facilitated by decisions of the CSJ that weaken the rule of
law. In addition to the CSJ’s disputed role during the coup d’état, it
subsequently decided, on the one hand, to dismiss charges against the
members of the military accused of participating in the coup and, on the
other, to fire judges and magistrates who sought to prevent the coup through
democratic means.
With regard to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR in Spanish), it
is important to emphasize the importance that such institutions have had in
many countries of the region. The Commission has stated that the right to
know the truth with respect to grave human rights violations, as well as the
right to know the identity of those who participated in them, constitutes an
obligation that every State party to the American Convention must meet, with
respect both to the relatives of the victims and to society in general.
The CVR began operating only 14 days ago. It is currently in the process of
issuing its own internal regulation, work plan, and methodology. It is
essential that the CVR have sufficient resources, personnel, and
independence to do its work effectively. It is also necessary that in
defining its regulation, work plan, and methodology, it incorporate as a
central focus of its work the investigation of complaints on human rights
violations that occurred in the context of the coup d’état. The IACHR will
closely follow the work of the CVR.
Whatever actions the Truth Commission ends up taking, these do not exempt
the State from its international obligation to investigate, prosecute, and
punish through the judicial system those agents of the State who may have
committed human rights violations.
The Commission welcomes the appointment of the advisory Minister on human
rights. However, it notes that to date she has not received the resources,
mandate, or structure that would make it possible to do an effective job,
one that helps transform the State toward a culture that is respectful of
human rights. With the current structure, it is practically impossible for
the Minister to have a significant impact on the observance of human rights.
Finally, the IACHR would like to state that human rights violations
particularly affect those sectors of the population that have been
marginalized historically and are most vulnerable, such as children, the
LGTB community, women, and indigenous and Garifuna peoples.
The IACHR visit had all the necessary facilities for the Commission to be
able to carry out its mission. The IACHR also expresses its appreciation to
the representatives of the State, civil society organizations, and
international agencies for the information and cooperation they provided.
The Commission recalls that, in accordance with the provisions established
in the American Convention on Human Rights and the Commission’s Rules of
Procedure, no reprisals of any kind may be taken against individuals or
entities that cooperate with the Commission by providing information or
testimony.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS),
the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American
Convention on Human Rights. The Commission is composed of seven independent
members who act in a personal capacity, without representing a particular
country, and who are elected by the OAS General Assembly.
*Useful Links:*
-
Report Human Rights and Coup
d’Etat<http://cidh.org/countryrep/Honduras09eng/Toc.htm> in
html and pdf <http://cidh.org/pdf%20files/HONDURAS2009ENG.pdf> (Honduras,
December 30, 2009)
-
Precautionary Measures granted by the IACHR to persons and groups of
persons in Honduras <http://www.cidh.org/medidas/2010Hond.eng.htm>, since
June 28, 2009
-
Press Release
R45/10<http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=798&lID=1>:
Office of the Special Rapporteur Expresses its Concern at the Latest Murder
of a Journalist in Honduras. April 22, 2010
-
Press Release
R39/10<http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=791&lID=1>:
Office of the Special Rapporteur Condemns Murder of Honduran Journalists and
Urges the State to Clear Up these Crimes and Adopt Protection Mechanisms.
March 27, 2010
-
Press Release
31/10<http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2010/31-10eng.htm>:
IACHR Deplores Murder of Journalist in Honduras. March 16, 2010
-
Press Release
R29/10<http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=787&lID=1>:
Office of the Special Rapporteur Condemns the Murder of a Journalist In
Honduras. March 15, 2009
-
Press Release
26/10<http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2010/26-10eng.htm>:
IACHR Deplores Murders, Kidnappings, and Attacks in Honduras. March 8, 2010
-
Press Release
R24/10<http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=785&lID=1>:
Office of the Special Rapporteur Condemns Murder of Journalist in Honduras.
March 5, 2010
-
Press Release
14/10<http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2010/14-10eng.htm>:
IACHR Expresses Concern about Amnesty Decree in Honduras. February 3, 2010
-
Press Release
R2/10<http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=778&lID=1>:
Office of the Special Rapporteur Expresses Concern at the Attack Against a
Community Radio in Honduras. January 11, 2010
-
IACHR Press Office <http://cidh.org/prensa.eng.htm>
-
IACHR website <http://www.cidh.org/DefaultE.htm>
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2010/54-10eng.htm
**
*
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