Land rights defenders evicted and persecuted

Association

Land rights defenders evicted and persecuted

On 16th March 2023, 150 police officers in the community of La Bomba evicted 60 women defenders from the organisation Red de Mujeres Campesinas Las Galileas. Rights defender Nolvia Albertina Obando Turcios was arrested and charged with the crime of usurpation of land. The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras condemned the evictions and arrest, as well as the police rhetoric which has sought to criminalise the organisation and the defenders legitimate efforts to protect land rights.

After the 16th March eviction, members of Red de Mujeres Campesinas Las Galileas returned to the territory. However, on 24th March, they were again expelled by security guards who threatened the defenders. The land rights defenders have stated that they faced sexual harassment, mockery, and threats from the guards and police, which have had a serious impact on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Expression

Journalist threatened and intimidated

On 22nd March 2023, journalist Natalia Reynoth with TELEVIDA HD announced publicly that she had received threatening messages. Reynoth told the Committee for Freedom of Expression that the threats aim to intimidate her and are linked to her investigative reporting on the "notorious case of false diplomas in the Department of Education in Choluteca", which has appeared in news programmes. C-Libre's Legal Department has looked into the threats and worked to ensure Reynoth and her family's safety. The National Human Rights Commissioner and the National Protection Mechanism has proceeded to examine this case and the threats against the journalist.

Media threatened

On 23rd March 2023, civil society organisations defending freedom of expression demanded improved and stronger mechanisms to guarantee this right, as it remains under threat in Honduras and much of Central America. The organisations assert that, in Honduras, the state represents the most serious threat to press freedom, citing incidents of public officials attacking the media. Other issues facing the press that were cited by civil society include:

• illegal detentions
• legal harassment
• physical attacks
• state surveillance

Dina Meza, director of the Association for Democracy and Human Rights, said that civil society demands improved and stronger protections and guarantees of the right to freedom of expression, as public officials in Honduras and other Central American states continue to slander and stigmatise members of the press.