Honduras Urged to Take Bold Action Against Corruption
A briefing paper sent by Human Rights Watch to President Xiomara Castro and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent steps to be taken in Honduras to tackle corruption, a widespread issue that undermines human rights across the country.
The Opportunity for Progress
The paper highlights the ongoing negotiations to create a UN-backed commission, known as the Comisión Internacional contra la Corrupción e Impunidad en Honduras (CICIH), which provides an opportunity for Honduras to learn from past experiences and make lasting progress in fighting corruption.
A Pledge Yet to be Fulfilled
President Castro was elected on a platform of addressing systemic corruption, which has been prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, it has been over a year since she took office, and Human Rights Watch is urging her to show that she stands by her pledge to tackle corruption.
The Impact of Corruption on Human Rights
Corruption in Honduras has led to serious human rights abuses, including deprivation of basic services such as:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Clean water
In 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported a significant increase in cases of corruption in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Examples of Corruption’s Impact
Human Rights Watch reviewed 14 judicial files related to corruption investigations and found strong links to human rights abuses in 12 of them. The briefing paper highlights four examples of how corruption has impacted human rights in Honduras:
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A Call for Action
Human Rights Watch is calling on the Castro administration to empower the international commission to propose legislative reforms to strengthen the rule of law and fight against corruption. The president should also commit to working with Congress to carry out these reforms.
The success of the international commission depends on it being autonomous and independent, with a broad mandate to investigate and prosecute individual corruption cases and the authority to protect its staff from retaliation.
“If Honduras sets it up for success, the international commission could provide a regional model for fighting a scourge that undermines people’s rights and their ability to lead their daily lives in dignity throughout Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “President Castro and Secretary-General Guterres, with the support of the international community, have an opportunity to show that democracy and the rule of law can deliver.”