Journalists in Honduras carry out their work amid fear and self-censorship, and in a context of high risk and lack of protection by the authorities. While on his way home in Danlí, El Paraíso Department, on the night of December 21, 2023, journalist Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador, age 39, was attacked by armed individuals who also shot a police officer, an armed escort, who was with him. Francisco was killed; the pólice officer suffered two gunshots and was treated at a hospital.
We are urging that authorities in Honduras (1) publish the results of the investigation into the assassination of Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador and bring those responsible to justice, (2) strengthen the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists of Honduras by providing more technical support, administrative assistance, funding, and improved processes for risk analysis and evaluation, and (3) ensure that all entities responsible for the implementation of prevention and protection measures work in a coordinated and articulated manner.