Ongoing attacks on journalists and HRDs spark concern

Introduction

In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, visited the country. The Special Rapporteur underscored that “the legal and judicial system in Honduras has failed to ensure justice and accountability for the most serious crimes and threats to the safety of human rights defenders, journalists and social communicators.”

In particular, Khan reported high risks of violence, online attacks and harassment for those working on issues such as land, environment and corruption. She also noted widespread intimidation of journalists, leading to self-censorship due to inadequate protection measures. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur called for a major overhaul of the protection mechanisms and urged for the decriminalisation of slander and libel.

Expression

Killing of journalist

On 21st December 2023, unknown people shot dead journalist Francisco Javier Ramírez while he was on his way home in the city of Danlí, El Paraíso department, southeastern Honduras, despite the fact that he was accompanied by a police officer assigned to him as part of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists following an armed attack in May 2023. López, who worked as a reporter for Canal 24 in Danlí, covered police and judicial issues, among other matters of public interest.

Human rights organisations condemned the murder. The Honduran Press Association (Asociación de Prensa Hondureña, APH) stated that it was a “heinous murder” and called on the judicial authorities to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served on both the intellectual and material perpetrators.

Similarly, on 4th January 2024, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) strongly condemned the murder of the journalist and called on the Honduran authorities “to carry out a complete, effective, and impartial investigation into the case, to prosecute and punish those responsible, and to take urgent measures to strengthen protection for the press at risk.”

According to the National Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office of Honduras (CONADEH), impunity for such cases exceeds 90 per cent, indicating that perpetrators generally do not face any legal consequences or punishment.

Association

Detentions, criminalisation and intimidation in the context of land conflicts against a Honduran agro-industrial sugar company

Over the past months, land defenders from the “Agua Blanca Sur” peasant association have been repressed. On 15th November 2023, the National Police arbitrarily detained Maribel Díaz García at her home in San Rita, Yoro department. She is a member of “Agua Blanca Sur” peasant association, affiliated with the National Centre of Rural Workers (Central Nacional de Trabajadores del Campo, CNTC), a small-scale farming and trade union organisation in Honduras.

Díaz García was accused of usurpation and, five hours later, released on bail. According to the National Network of Human Rights Defenders in Honduras, Díaz García was under surveillance for over two days at her home by National Police officials.

The following day, on 16th November, the National Police and security guards from the sugar company AZUNOSA evicted 42 families from the “Agua Blanca Sur” peasant association in accordance with the ‘preventive eviction’ figure outlined in Decree 93-2021. The Decree has expanded the crime of usurpation, affecting peasant families that legitimately claim their right to land. As highlighted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Honduras, this ‘preventive eviction’ figure enables the practice of preventive and immediate evictions, in contravention of international human rights obligations.

Moreover, on 4th December 2023, the National Police detained Jensy and Hilario Manzanares while they were travelling to the hospital to seek health care for their mother. Both Manzanares are members of the “Agua Blanca Sur” association. As reported by C-Libre, a Honduran press freedom organisation, they were detained under usurpation charges in response to the eviction carried out on 16th November. Since then, at least eight land defenders have faced criminal persecution, some of whom are currently out on bail, including Jensy and Hilario Manzanares.

On 27th December 2023, Peace Brigades International-Honduras stated that it is “concerned about the criminalisation and persecution of defenders of land and territory and the evictions of entire campesino communities. We highlight the work of campesinos in favour of food sovereignty and environmental protection. Likewise, we applaud the work of CNTC Progreso in the defense of human rights and land and territory.”

Failure to prevent attacks against women HRDs

2022 witnessed at least 70 documented attacks against 15 women HRDs, according to IM-Defensoras. A significant proportion, around 47 per cent, of these incidents were perpetrated by individuals previously reported by the women HRDs or their legal representatives.