Civil society organizations and international organizations have observed with extreme concern the situation of violence generated in Honduras after the general elections on November 26. At least 14 people have been killed, as well as dozens of people injured and more than 840 detainees. Likewise, human rights defenders have also reported attacks against them in the electoral context.
The delay in the dissemination of definitive results and the apparent lack of transparency on the part of the TSE led to demonstrations in various parts of the country. Subsequently, on December 1st, the Honduran government decreed a curfew and the suspension of certain constitutional guarantees for 10 days. The Organization of American States (OAS) considered such measure disproportionate and requested its immediate lifting.
The population was harshly repressed by the Honduran security forces. Amnesty International denounced that "the security forces have operated with the highest levels of impunity" after the curfew. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras also expressed deep concern about the reported acts of violence and urged the Honduran government to comply with its international obligations to guarantee human rights.
In this context, PBI has observed with concern the governmental measures, the action of the security forces and the post-electoral violence, in particular, with regard to the defense of human rights. Defenders, defenders, and organizations are carrying out tasks such as case documentation, legal representation or observation. The state of exception has restricted their right to seek and disseminate information, closing a fundamental part of their workspace.
PBI urges the international community to urge the State of Honduras to comply with its obligation to guarantee the protection, promotion, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In particular, on the importance of complying with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on human rights defenders, in order to explicitly recognize and facilitate the monitoring, systematization, and reporting work of human rights defenders in the current context.
See here the full PBI statement.
PBI is a member of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders mechanism.
