Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

November 2011

Executive summary

Since the coup d’état in Honduras on June 28, 2009, Peace Brigades International (PBI) has followed the deteriorating security situation for human rights defenders (herein after HRDs) in that country with increasing concern. In July of 2010, PBI received a formal petition from the National Human Rights Platform of Honduras, requesting that the organisation establish an international accompaniment and observation project in the country as a result of the lack of guarantees of protection for those persons working to defend human rights. PBI decided to form a group of international observers who would carry out a short-term mission to Honduras. The mission lasted three weeks and took place during May 2011.

PBI MISSION OBJECTIVES IN HONDURAS

1. meet and become familiar with human rights organisations;
   
2. provide moral support to human rights defenders;
   
3. meet with the international community, international aid agencies, and the diplomatic corps;
   
4. publish a report highlighting the organisation’s concerns and the needs in terms of protection and international accompaniment.
   

The group of observers sent by PBI met with a diverse group of social organisations, campesino movements, trade unionists, and communications activists in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, the Bajo Aguan region, the Atlantic Coast, Siria Valley, Zacate Grande, La Esperanza and Siguatepeque. Additionally, the mission met with the diplomatic community in Tegucigalpa, the European Union Delegation, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the G-16, international aid organisations and the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights. PBI would like to express its deep concern for the systematic violation of human rights (civil and political, as well as economic, social, cultural, and the collective rights of indigenous and garifuna peoples) that the mission observed during its time in the country. In the relatively short duration of our visit, at least five human rights defenders were assassinated (a journalist, a campesino leader, and three members of campesino movements, ), there was an attempted raid on the regional office of a national women’s organisation, five indigenous youths were assaulted during a community event, and peaceful demonstrations against the event Honduras Open for Business were violently repressed. Since the mission’s visit ended, the violence and persecution against human rights defenders has continued. 

With this report, PBI hopes to contribute to the documentation and publicising of the critical situation for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Honduras, from our vantage point as an international accompaniment and observation organisation with 30 years of experience working on the subject of protection for human rights defenders in Latin America and on other continents.

This report highlights the principal risk factors that jeopardise the lives of HRDs, their families and their communities, in addition to impeding their work in defence of human rights in their country. What follows is an analysis of the three risk factors identified within the current socio-political context of Honduras:

1. Impunity in cases of human rights violations committed by state and non-state actors;
   
2. Criminalisation and stigmatisation of human rights defenders;
   
3. Inefficient implementation of protection measures and mechanisms.
   

The report looks at exemplary cases that illustrate these risks and their effect on the work of HRDs, emphasising patterns of harassment that continue against them. Additionally, the report makes recommendations to the international community about how they can better support the work of HRDs who find themselves under constant pressure. It is the organisation’s sincere hope that these observations are helpful in the future monitoring and evaluation of the situation for human rights defenders in Honduras. PBI greatly appreciates the willing and generous collaboration of all the organisations, individuals, and communities with whom the mission had the pleasure of meeting, and whose experiences, analysis, and hopes were indispensable in the writing of this report.