source: United Nations
The UN Human Rights Committee today issued its findings on Croatia, Honduras, India, Maldives, Malta, Suriname, and the Syrian Arab Republic after examining the seven States parties in its latest session.
The findings contain the Committee’s main concerns and recommendations on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as positive aspects. Highlights include:
Honduras
While acknowledging Honduras’ numerous operations to combat crime and homicide, the Committee remained concerned that both rates are still extremely high in the country. The Committee also expressed concern over endemic violence, including extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, the high rate of impunity, and the lack of control over the use and possession of firearms. It urged Honduras to investigate all these violations and accelerate the process of strengthening the National Police in order to facilitate the law enforcement functions currently assumed by the armed forces.
The Committee reiterated its concern about the large scale of intimidation and violence and the high rates of killings of human rights defenders committed by both State agents and private individuals or groups. The Committee was also disturbed by the difficulties faced by victims in accessing justice, the lack of effective investigations, and the delays in judicial proceedings. It called on Honduras to adopt effective measures to protect human rights defenders, particularly environmental and land rights defenders, journalists, trade unionists, agrarian and peasant activists, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and LGBTI people. The State party should also promptly and thoroughly investigate these human rights violations, bring those responsible to justice, and provide full reparations to victims.
Read the findings on Honduras and the other nations at https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=2734&Lang=en
