Expression
On 8th May 2023, the Honduran Association of Journalists of the northwest region expressed concern over the increasing number of threats against journalists and media.
On 25th May 2023, National Journalists Day, national and international civil society organisations raised concerns over the deteriorating conditions for independent journalism and lack of protection of the right to freedom of expression. Censorship, harassment, physical attacks, and assaults are common practices to silence critical voices. Civil society groups have also noted that the government needs to develop an institutional response to violence against journalists.
Preocupados por las amenazas a muerte contra colegas en San Pedro Sula. pic.twitter.com/6zmZy3STNx
— CPH Honduras (@ColegioPeriodi1) May 8, 2023
Association
On 18th April 2023, unknown individuals set fire to a Garífuna community establishment - Casa de Salud Ancestral - in San Juan. No one was injured in the arson attack on the indigenous community. These establishments - Casas de Salud Ancestral - house Garifuna social projects and activities to strengthen ancestral knowledge.
On 28th May 2023, land rights defender and member of Honduran Black Fraternal Organisation (Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña - OFRANEH) Martín Morales was found dead in the Gama River. His family had reported him missing on 27th May 2023. It is the second time this year that a land rights defender from Triunfo de la Cruz community has been found dead in the same river. Honduran civil society and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras called on the authorities to promptly investigate both deaths.
The violent evictions, judicial persecution, criminalisation, and harassment against Miriam Miranda, coordinator for OFRANEH, as well as the lack of action from the authorities in response to the above, are evidence that Garifuna people face systemic violence. As a result, the defenders of this community prefer not to carry out their defence work due to the lack of guarantees. On 29th May, the Garifuna community of San Juan en Tela announced that none of its members participated in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on-site visit, which took place from 29th May to 31st May.
1/2 #OACNUDH condena la muerte del defensor garífuna de la tierra y el territorio, Martín Morales. De acuerdo al monitoreo de la Oficina, este sería el segundo defensor garífuna que es encontrado sin vida en el sector del Río Gama, comunidad Triunfo de la Cruz, Atlántida.
— OACNUDH Honduras (@OACNUDHHN) May 31, 2023
Peaceful Assembly
On 9th May 2023, people in Choluteca took to the streets to demonstrate against a proposed bill on Tributary Justice, which could lead to the closure of several agroindustrial companies in the southern region of Honduras. Two days after the protest, President Xiomara Castro ordered an investigation into those who promoted and participated in demonstrations, though the authorities did not identify any crimes committed during the protests. Civil society denounced this measure as an act of intimidation and violates the freedom of peaceful assembly.