Skip to main content

Human Rights in Honduras

Date:
Location:
2255 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) for a hearing on human rights in Honduras.

Honduras has long faced significant human rights challenges. However, many observers maintain that the situation deteriorated considerably in the aftermath of the June 2009 coup that ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya. According to the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, the interim government that followed Zelaya committed serious abuses, including grave violations of political rights, arbitrary restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and the arbitrary detention of thousands of people in grossly inadequate conditions. The current government of President Porfirio Lobo has lifted some restrictions on civil liberties, as well as created several initiatives to improve the protection of human rights in Honduras. In particular, a new Secretariat for Justice and Human Rights was established in 2010 to promote, coordinate and evaluate justice and human rights in the country.

Despite such efforts, Honduras’ human rights situation has remained serious, as the general security situation in the country continues to deteriorate. In 2012, Honduras had the highest homicide rate in the world with 86 murders per 100,000 residents. Victims included journalists, union leaders, human rights defenders and leaders of poor farming communities. Meanwhile, certain elements of the Honduran police are alleged to be carrying out extrajudicial killings as part of “social cleansing” operations that target gang members and other perceived criminals. Moreover, the government and courts routinely fail to investigate crimes and try those responsible.

This hearing will review Honduras’ current human rights situation and U.S. policy with a view toward improving US cooperation on security and human rights in Honduras.

If you have any questions, please contact the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at 202-225-3599 or tlhrc@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

Panel II

Meeting Documents

Transcript

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

Get Commission E-Mail Updates

Please sign up to receive Commission updates, hearing schedules, and the latest news.