3231st Meeting, 118th Session, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Hello.
Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, Excellencies, I declare open the 3231st meeting of the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination.
We will proceed today with the consideration of the combined ninth to 11th periodic reports of Honduras.
I would like to warmly welcome the delegation of Honduras appearing today before the committee, although we were expecting a larger delegation in front of us and a smaller delegation back home.
But somehow, this is what we have.
The delegation is led by Her Excellency, miss Carla Cueva, ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva and miss La Liste, Garcia Pagan, Secretary of State for Human Rights, head of the Virtual delegation.
I will invite immediately Her Excellency, miss Scala Cueva, for her introductory remarks.
You have the floor, Madam.
Senor President Chair of the committee, rapporteur, members of the committee, representatives of the institutions of the State of Honduras and civil society organizations.
For the State of Honduras, it's an honor and a valuable opportunity to come before this committee For this constructive dialogue on the achievements and challenges to achieve full compliance with the International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.
The importance and relevance of this issue for the state of Honduras can be seen in the comprehensive participation of its delegation, composed of representation from the three levels of state, the legislature, here in person and the executive and the judiciary and independent bodies, such as the Public Prosecution Service that are joining us virtually.
Members of the committee, this dialogue is an opportunity to demonstrate progress in this area and also to recognize the challenges that we face.
To achieve full compliance with the convention.
We firmly believe that accountability for special procedures and treaty bodies contributes to strengthening our institutions and the framework of public policies.
Because protection and guarantee of human rights are key for moving towards a fairer, more inclusive society.
In light of the foregoing members of the committee, today, we have the Delegation of Honduras attending today, and we highly value the opportunity and will speak with transparency and openness.
Allow me to introduce the head of the delegation of the State of Honduras, the Secretary of State within the Ministry for Human Rights, La Garcia Pagan, thank you very much.
Chair of the committee, distinguished members of the committee, representatives of the institutions of the State of Honduras, representatives of civil society organizations, a very good afternoon to you.
On behalf of the State of Honduras, I send you warm greetings, as well as greetings from the President of the Republic Nasri Afra.
He reaffirms commitment to fulfilling the international obligations taken on by our country in terms of human rights, and particularly those stemming from ratification of the International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.
I come before this Honorable committee as the Minister for human rights.
I have with me a delegation with representatives of the three power pillars of the state.
Our participation is taking place in hybrid format as well as in person and virtual in step with the national policy on austerity and respecting the state's commitment to engage in responsible use of public resources.
We come before this committee ready for dialogue, and we will have an objective attitude and show transparency and a constructive spirit.
Honduras is a multi ethnic and multicultural state.
In our country, various indigenous people groups and Afro Honduran peoples live side by side and their stories, languages, traditions, ancestral knowledge, and cultural expressions are a core part of our national identity and our cultural heritage.
The state recognizes that cultural diversity and the ethnic diversity of Honduras is something that should be protected, promoted and respected and that equality and non discrimination are fundamental principles to build a fair and more inclusive society.
The Republic's Constitution acknowledges the duty of the state to protect the rights of indigenous people and Afro Hondurans.
In compliance with this mandate, Honduras has implemented a measures to strengthen institutional capacities and have the best tools for shaping public policies.
With this in mind, we would highlight the launching of the census on people in housing following a three year delay.
This initiative will make it possible to bolster the availability of updated disaggregated information, which is crucial to identify any gaps and have a greater knowledge on the life of our people, as well as to allow us to gear public policies to guaranteeing equality and nondiscrimination.
Honduras recognizes and is also grateful for the support from international human rights organizations.
Their cooperation has contributed to strengthening national capacities and helped us to comply with our international obligations.
A process is underway to update the public policy and national action plan on human rights.
This is being designed as a strategic tool to guide the state towards a model of prevention focused on people and through a human rights approach.
This update strives to bolster an action geared at guaranteeing full exercise of rights for people who are living in vulnerable situations, reducing historic divides and inequalities and promoting conditions that favor sustainable development.
Honduras has launched a new comprehensive policy for indigenous people and Afro Hondurans.
This is in the initial phases and includes participation of the communities themselves, as well as sectors that are connected to this theme.
This participation is a core element to guarantee that public policies respond efficiently to needs, realities, and priorities of the communities that they're designed for.
A process for updating the comprehensive policy for women 2026 2036 has been launched, including a differentiated approach that recognizes needs and specific conditions for women and girls belonging to indigenous communities and Afro Honduran communities in Honduras.
On employment, the State of Honduras recently passed Legislative Decree 29 2025.
The act on inclusive employment.
The goal is to promote decent work for Hondurans that belong to original people groups or indigenous communities and coordinating this with fundamental elements such as education and professional training from the point of view of labor inclusion.
This strives to create opportunities that make it possible to guarantee effective access to the right to work for indigenous communities and Afro Hondurans on an equal footing and without discrimination.
Similarly, we have relaunched the system for monitoring international recommendations as a mechanism designed to strengthen follow up institutional coordination and compliance with recommendations given to Honduras by different international mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
This is crucial to progress towards a formal conception of equality towards a substantive equality that can tackle historic inequalities and contribute effectively to the prevention and elimination of all forms of racial and ethnic discrimination.
Chair and distinguished members of the committee, Honduras also acknowledges with responsibility and self criticism that there are still major challenges ahead.
Reducing poverty and inequality, as well as ensuring effective guarantees for access to fundamental rights such as health, education, and decent work continued to be priorities that require sustained efforts and coordinated institutional action.
We are mindful that we have a way to go between the legal recognition of a number of rights and effective implementation for all individuals and communities.
Closing that gap is precisely one of our states main principles, one of our state's main challenges.
Honduras is participating in this review, therefore, in good faith with openness and full respect for the mandate and the work of this committee.
We are mindful that progress in human rights must be demonstrated with facts, results, and real transformation in the lives of people.
This is precisely what Honduras is going to share with the committee.
We reaffirm our commitment to equality and non discrimination, to effective protection of indigenous communities and af Honduran communities, strengthening of public policies based on human rights, and with an ever more effective participation of communities in decisions that influence their present and their future.
Honduras has received the questions and will receive the questions and observations and recommendations of this committee in a constructive spirit, mindful that international dialogue is a tool to help strengthen our capacities and improve protection of human rights in our country.
Human rights are not a political concession.
They're a legal obligation, a state commitment, and above all, a responsibility and a duty that we have to each individual and each community in Honduras.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Madam Minister, for your introductory remarks.
We will now I'll start our dialogue, which will be divided into two days this afternoon and tomorrow morning.
And this afternoon, we're going to have approximately 3 hours for discussing two segments of issues.
The first segment deals with the demographic and ethnic composition of the population, the convention in the domestic legal order.
The institutional and policy framework against racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and people of African descent, access to justice, and Segment two, we'll focus on Article 4 of the convention on hate speech, hate crime, incitement to racial hatred and xenophobia.
The National Human Rights Commissioner, mandate against racial discrimination, resources, selection and appointment, returned and deported Hondurans, in particular, the indigenous peoples and people of African descent, forced internal displacement, in particular of indigenous peoples and people of African descent, the situation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, education on human rights and against racial discrimination.
And these teams were identified by the committee in the list of teams and in the methodology shared with the state party.
I will give the floor now to Mr.
Vicente Vasquez, the country reporteer.
But before that, allow me to give you a brief account of the follow up situation of the state parties since our follow up reporter was not able to attend this particular meeting.
The um Last concluding observations on Honduras were adopted in December 2018.
And a number of issues were raised, brought to the attention of the Honduran authorities to be taken up in an interim report to be submitted to the committee within one year of the adoption of the concluding observations.
I am happily announcing that the state party duly submitted its report right on time, and we appreciate this very much, Madam.
Um This time around the same thing will happen.
We will also raise a number of issues to be revisited within one year.
I'm sure the Honduran authorities will react appropriately.
The committee evaluating the interim report has found in all cases, the responses being partially satisfactory.
The reasons were explained in a letter sent to the state party.
The issues raised are also taken up in the state party's report, the combined nine to 11th reports submitted in 2023 in various paragraphs.
I will leave the reporteurs to deal with the value of the information provided in those when the time comes.
With these, I will invite Senor Vicente Vasquez to put his series of questions on the segment one.
Senor Vicente Vasquez, you have the floor.
Thank you, Chair for giving me the floor.
Allow me, first of all, to thank Your Excellency Carl Cueva and the head of delegation for the initial remarks.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the State of Honduras and thank them for being here.
I'll send greetings to the various authorities and representatives that are meeting in Capitol.
The response in number shows the serious attitude that you have to our convention.
I am also grateful to have been appointed as country rapporteur for the reports of Honduras and I'd like to thank my co rapporteurs.
This is the first review of the state since 2018, and it's occurring at a time of institutional transition.
Secondly, I'd like to tell you that this dialogue is an opportunity to take stock of the progress made since the concluding observations of 2018, but also to identify the remaining obstacles to full enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Convention by indigenous communities, Afro Hondurans, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and women and girls that belong to these groups.
My most sincere thanks must go to civil society organizations that agreed to share with members of the committee the results of their work conducted on the ground on a daily basis.
I'd like to extend greetings to the Lana, Mosquits Marti, Tulupan, Pech Taua, Nahua, Cole Lifuna, and the English speaking Black communities of the Bay Islands.
That being said, I will focus on the themes two, three, four, seven, eight, 26, and 27.
Demographic composition first.
The committee takes note of the information provided in paragraphs 19 to 29 of the report on the 17th population census and the sixth Housing centers of 2013, as well as the efforts undertaken to incorporate the ethnic racial element and the self identification criterion in the data collection.
However, the committee observes that 13 years have elapsed since the last census and that you do not have de aggregated socioeconomic indicators that allow us to gauge the effective enjoyment of the rights of peoples belonging to these groups.
The lack of indicators restricts the state's capacity and that of other actors to fully assess the progress made in enjoyment of fundamental rights for these collective groups and to reduce inequalities.
The committee has received information and it's been confirmed on the new publication Population Housing Census.
The committee would appreciate having detailed information on the following questions.
First, can the state party indicate what the planned time frame is for the Census, can you stipulate the methodology for self identification that you will use and the way in which organizations that represent indigenous communities and Afro Honduran communities will participate in its shape, and its design and validation? Second question, what specific measures have you adopted to overcome the low level of registration that was reported for such organizations, and in particular, the communities of African descent that are English speaking in the Bay Islands, and what participation has been guaranteed in data gathering and the use of data that pertains to them? Third question, could the state party also provide socioeconomic disaggregated socioeconomic indicators for poor indigenous community and Afro descent community, sex department as well as up to date information on migrant migrants, asylum seekers, refugees in the territory degregated by sex, age, ethnicity, and nationality.
Fourth question, the committee would like to know if the state party has taken measures to incorporate the ethnic racial element in administrative records and public institutions, as well as more local governments to assess impact and what conclusions have you drawn.
Fifth question, the committee has received information whereby the Public Prosecution Service and the judiciary have denied the hearings to indigenous people because they have not been signed up on a registry.
Does the state party consider enrollment in a register for civil associations as a condition for the legal person of an indigenous person or recognition of an indigenous community? What measures have you adopted in particular regarding the recognition of the Nahua people? Moving on to the application of the Convention by domestic courts.
The committee takes note of the information provided in paragraphs 15 and 16 of the state party report on Article 16 of the Constitution, by virtue of which international treaties ratified are part of domestic law, as well as information on activities for training covered in paragraphs 13 and 14.
However, the committee observes that the report does not identify any cases where provisions of the Convention have been invoked before the courts or directly applied by them, which reiterates which means leads me to reiterate a concern expressed in paragraph six and seven of the previous concluding observations of 2018.
My first question to this end, can the state party please provide detailed information on cases where provisions of the Convention have been invoked before the courts or directly applied by them? Please provide the case number, the title, and the results.
Second question, can you indicate the number of agents of the law enforcement agencies, public defenders, lawyers, judges, and other officials who have received specific training in the convention deagggregated by institution and also stipulate if this information addresses racial discrimination against people who are not citizens, including migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees? Third question, what specific measures have been adopted to raise awareness amongst the population and non citizens on the rights enshrined in the convention and on the mechanisms complaint mechanisms and legal remedy and non legal remedy available to them.
In what languages have these been disseminated? Fourth question, the committee would like to know if assessments have been conducted to gauge the impact of these activities, including the increase in the number of complaints on grounds of racial discrimination, improvement of the consideration of the convention by the courts and strengthening of trust for victims in the reparation mechanisms.
The fourth theme, legislation prohibiting racial discrimination.
Committee takes note of the information provided in paragraphs 30 to 33 of the report of the State Party on the criminal provisions applicable to acts of discrimination.
Nevertheless, we note that eight years after the recommendation formulated in paragraphs 10 11 of the concluding observations of 2018, the State Party has not yet adopted any comprehensive legislation to combat discrimination that establishes a clear definition of racial discrimination and covers all the spheres of this right in public life.
The committee observes that in March 2026, the State Party accepted four recommendations from the UPR to this end.
The committee observes that Articles 211 and 213 of the Criminal Code have on an unduly restrictive focus, which does not recognize, define, or punish all forms of racial discrimination, including direct, indirect, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and it leaves historically marginalized groups without protection, in particular, indigenous women and Afro Honduran women.
This falls short of Article 1 of the Convention.
My first question, what time frame budget allocation and institutional mechanism has been established for the adoption of a comprehensive legislation against discrimination that will contain a definition that covers direct, indirect, multiple, and intersecting forms of discrimination on all of the grounds set out in Article 1 paragraph one of the Convention.
Two, Given that the State Party accepted recommendation 117.23 of the UPR on the adoption of specific effective measures to eradicate racism and racial discrimination against indigenous communities and Afro Honduran communities, what measures have been adopted since these recommendations were accepted? Three, is the state party considering establishing civil remedies and administrative remedies in the face of racial discrimination, as well as reversal of the burden of proof for victims? Have you consulted the draft project on indigenous peoples in Afro Honduran and organizations that represent migrants and refugees? Now turning to institutions against racial discrimination and promotion of human rights of Indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
Committee takes note of the creation in 2022 of the National Coordination of Original Peoples, Nafro Honduran Peoples and the Ministry on Culture, arts and Heritage of People of Honduras, as well as the information provided in paragraphs 9, 36, 38, and 66 of the State party report.
However, the committee observes that the division or the Directorate of Indigenous peoples and Afro Honduran communities has not been given ministerial rank in line with the recommendation formulated in paragraph 15 of the concluding observations of 2018 and that the National Commission Against racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance has not been reactivated.
The committee would like to have some more detailed information.
And First question, could the state party indicate why the Directorate for Indigenous people and Afro Hondurans has not been given ministerial rank and do you plan to do so? Second question, can you provide detailed information on the development of financial, human, and technical resources assigned to the National Coordination for Original and Afro Honduran peoples and the Ministry for Culture and the Special Prosecutor's Office for Protection of Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage on the ethnic diversity of its staff and on its presence in remote areas of the country, as well as on measures planned to reactivate the National Commission on racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia.
Three, Yes.
Could you please tell us what the mandate of this organization is, their budgetary allocation, how much staff do they have, how it works with the Special prosecution's office, and what results have been obtained so far? Which mechanisms are guaranteeing the participation of indigenous and Afro Honduran people through their own representative institutions when drafting, implementing, and assessing the impact of policies affecting them? Five, the committee would like to know whether or not the state has assessed the effectiveness of this institutional architecture and how it links in with its various components, and if so, what conclusions have you drawn? Item eight public policy against racism and racial discrimination.
The committee takes note of the information provided in paragraphs 39 to 41 of the State party's reports on public policy against racism and racial discrimination for the thorough development of Indigenous and A Honduran people in 2026, as well as information on the first International Decade of people of African descent found in paragraphs 182 and 183.
However, the committee knows that this policy ends this year, and we still do not know any verifiable results.
The No National Action Plan against racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related forms of intolerance has been adopted.
So one, can the state party please provide detailed information on progress and the outcome of public policy 2016, 2026, specifying what human, financial and technical resources have been assigned.
Number two, the committee understands that in November 2025, the Secretary for Social Development presented a draft of a comprehensive public policy for Indigenous and Afro Honduran people? Can the State Party please tell us whether that draft and the comprehensive public policy 2027 2032 are the same one instrument? Please tell us what the timetable is and what the allocated funds are.
Three, what specific measures have been adopted to have a specific plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia related forms of intolerance? Would this plan cover discrimination affecting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees? Four, could you please let us know what measures and activities have been planned as part of the Second International Decade of People of African Descent? How do people of African descent participate in their design, implementation, and follow up? What reach has been of the August 1st Declaration of that day as the day for English people of African descent, English speaking people of African descent in Honduras.
Also, the committee would like to know the participation of indigenous and Afrinuran people is considered.
Item six, the committee takes note of information provided in paragraphs 1 65 to 171 of the State party's report on available resources and the work.
Of the prosecution Office for the Defense of ethnicities.
The committee remains concerned over obstacles though that affect indigenous and 100 peoples as well as migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees and having access to justice.
The committee recalls that the special rapporteur on the independence of judges and attorneys noted that the impunity rate is over 90% and that over 97% of offenses against human right defenders remain unpunished.
One, could the state party please provide data on complaints lodged and open investigations as well as the rulings that resulted in the Special Prosecutor's Office for the period under review.
The committee would also appreciate information on what happened to the two specific complaints presented before that office on the statement that Civil Serv in 2022 denied the existence of the Nahua Indigenous group and discrimination in the education system for indigenous persons.
Can you tell us how many public defenders are bilingual and how many Bilingual interpreters are actually available? What languages they work in, in which municipalities and what measures have been adopted to recognize their own indigenous justice systems? Three, what specific measures have been adopted to eliminate the obstacles that hinder access to justice for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees? Four, the committee has received information stating that resolutions of legal bodies at the lower level have authorized actions that are banned by rulings of the Constitutional Court on the topic of indigenous peoples.
What mechanisms ensure that the sentences remain protected? On compliance with judgment of the Inter American Court, the committee takes note of information provided in paragraph 72 and 76 and 110 of the state party report and measures taken to fulfill the rulings of the Inter American Court of Human Rights and the internstitutional Commission which was created to that end.
However, according to information that the committee has received, it seems that after ten years since the ruling of 2015 in the cases of the Garfin and Tf de la Cruz communities, The measures of the limitation, demarcation, titling, and more specifically of territorial sanitation have not yet been implemented.
So we would like to know, one, what specific measures has the state party taken in order to comply with outstanding operative points of the Trif de la Cruz and ***** Pedro judgments, in particular regarding the remediation of the title territories in respect to the third occupants.
Two, could the state party please specify the status of the reform of the commission responsible for implementation of international adjustments and the participation of the beneficiary communities in it.
Three.
In the case of the Gifa Cos Cuchinos community, the Inter American Court of Human Rights judgment ordered to guarantee the participation of the community in the preparation management plan of the Calos Cucinos archipelago, among others.
What specific measures have the state taken to comply with that resolution? Four, what is the status of the international proceedings initiated in relation to employment and economic development zones and the total financial exposure of the state? What measures have been taken to restore the territorial and cultural rights have affected communities.
And how does the state party reconcile the investor protection commitments with its obligations under the Convention? I would like to thank members of the official delegation for their participation in this session and I thank you ahead of time for the thorough replies that you will be providing and any additional clarifications on these points we've raised.
Thank you very much, Sir.
Thank you, Senor Vasquez.
You have about a minute and a half extra time.
You can raise any demand for clarification during the responses of the state party.
This was the first round of questions.
I will now return the floor to the delegation for its responses.
You have 25 minutes.
Madam.
Thank you, Chair.
The State of Honduras would like to thank the distinguished rapporteur for his questions, and we will be answering them openly directly and I will be handing the floor to different institutions, beginning for 3 minutes to Director Marta Leva representing the National Statistics Institute.
Sir, Rapporteur, addressing the question on the demographic and ethic makeup, we can say that by August ten, 2026, the states launched the new population and housing census, which will allow us to update existing information from 2013 when we had a total of registered 717 618 people belonging to indigenous and Afro Honduran groups.
This new census will allow us to have up to date and broken down information on the demographic and ethnic makeup of the country, as well as on the socioeconomic conditions of these groups using a differentiated approach that will assist us in identifying gaps and more effectively targeting our public policies with a view to eliminating discrimination.
In this framework, among the measures adopted by the National Statistics Institute, we have the inclusion of ethnic self identification.
It is now part of the population Housing Census.
There are also new cognitive tests, anthropological and advisory, and consultation with indigenous and Afro Hnuran peoples.
Regarding the self identification methodology, the National Institute of Statistics has had workshops, work and roundtables with the participation of representatives of various organizations of peoples and their contributions were taken on board when designing and rolling out the strategy for gathering information.
This process allowed us to use criteria of cultural belonging, including the participations of people coming from the communities themselves and people who are members of various communities.
With the aim of building trust, facilitating access to households, and encouraging appropriate self identification.
In order to overcome the under registration which has been identified by the organizations, the National Statistics Institute, the INE designed an outreach and awareness raising strategy targeting these communities.
It includes some radio spots through local media, which have been produced in Spanish and the indigenous languages of each people.
Along these lines, the National Registry of Persons has been progressively including self identification into the national identity documents.
So as of July 2026, we have a total of 124,041 persons that are registered as belonging to indigenous or Afro Honduran people.
Distributed as followed, Lana 90,193, Karfuna 9,893, Mesquito 18,566, Maya Chorte 1,698, English speaking Black, 2,362, Peach, 516, Tolupan 581, Tawaka 151, and Naha 81.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Now, the Supreme Court of Justice has the floor.
Isabel Mcillos their representative.
Chair, distinguished rapporteurs.
Good afternoon.
Adré the question concerning the application of the Convention by national courts, I would like to provide the following information.
In the legal sphere, the judiciary has developed consolidated case law and at least 16 constitutional rulings through which the Constitutional Chamber has established standards related to equality and non discrimination, indigenous identity, the protection of Indigenous and Afaran people, territory, cultural relevance, and effective access to justice.
Criteria that we have identified are subjective and objective.
Beginning with consciousness of self identification as involvement as indigenous people, and then the judicial assessments with the complete or partial participation of cultural or political organizations.
As a result, the self recognition as indigenous group doesn't hinge excessively on administrative decision.
The judges must assess self perception and the cultural identity, historical continuity in the characteristics of the community itself.
Keeping with these international parameters, the constitutional case law has used this standard precisely to ensure that indigenous community is arbitrarily disregarded by jurisdictional bodies.
I have some figures here on the number of cases, the SEO 14 71 2021, the Asuka case, Mayo shorte, which is 00822019.
We also apply Article 2 of IRTA given racial contents and others.
To summarize, the restriction could be applied, but it is not in and of itself what leads to indigenous identification.
We use objective and subjective criteria according to ILO Agreement 169 in order to protect cultural identity.
It is also important to note that the court determined that the population concern has the subjective criteria of identification and according to that agreement, they recognize their historic identity.
It is important to say as well, regarding effective access to justice, the fact that the second area concerns measures aimed at overcoming linguistic territorial knowledge related barriers that may limit effective access to courts.
Linguistically in terms of language, the judiciary has strengthened the National Register of Experts, interpreters and translators.
Currently, there are 293 Justice helpers, 274 experts, 17 translators, and two official interpreters.
It's important to note that we have included people who speak Afua Pech and Mesquitu languages as well as English translators for the Afro descendant population of Bay Islands.
The same time, we have an expansion process to include interpreters in Tawaa, Tori, and Lana.
This mechanism is supplemented with the implementation of the PITT online platform, which allows us to digitally manage the assignment of interpreters among various legal agencies in the country.
We also have the Judicial facilitator Service, which services a mechanism for bringing the judiciary closer to communities, particularly in areas where geographical, economic, or cultural conditions may represent an additional obstacle to access the justice system.
Thank you.
Thank you to the Supreme Court of Justice as well.
Additional information can be provided, of course, later as the committee has indicated.
Now we'll give the floor for 3 minutes to the deputy of the National Congress, David Masa.
Distinguished rapporteur, I am David Masa, and I'm here representing the legislative branch of Honduras and I'm speaking as chair of the Justice and Human Rights Committee.
Regarding your question on comprehensive legislation against racial discrimination, Our answer is based on our Constitution, Article 60, which prohibits discrimination in paragraph two and the Criminal Code in Article 32, has an aggravating circumstance when an offense is committed for racist grounds or other motives related to the victim's ideology, religion, or beliefs, age, language, family situation.
Ethnicity or race or nation, sex and sexual orientation.
Additionally, we have a reform of Articles 66 208 and 210 of the Criminal Code, which creates the notion of feide aggravated feminicide with 30 years imprisonment and it also creates an offense of aggravated feminicide punishable for 30 to 40 years.
It recognizes intersectionality, including belonging to an indigenous or Afro descendant people group as a factor that increases the victim's vulnerability.
Honduras granted does not yet have a comprehensive law affecting direct and direct multiple and intersectoral discrimination in the terms of this committee's general recommendation 35.
However, non discrimination and its punishment is covered in the sectorial legislation and laws such as the Inclusive Employment Law, legislative Decree 29, 2025 of January 22nd, 2026, which establishes that state institutions as well as large companies, must seek to ensure that their staff has at least 5% of people belonging to indigenous and Afro Honduran peoples.
The electoral law in Honduras It also has in Article 65, Paragraph 11, it says, The right to obtain protection against any form of discrimination on grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, political opinion, social origin, economic status, or any other grounds.
As a representative of the legislative, I am here before this committee to take on a commitment to push for the discussion of a comprehensive draft bill against racial discrimination in the 2026 2030 legislature.
For that, I would like to rely on the technical support of this committee in order to secure this great achievement of having an anti discrimination law.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Distinguished Deputy.
Now, I would like to give the floor for 3 minutes to the Director, Sabi Romero, representing the Ministry of Social Development.
Chair, distinguished rapporteur, addressing the question regarding our institutional framework for Indigenous and Afro Huuran people against racial discrimination and the comprehensive public policy we would like to say.
On May 25th, 2026, through executive decree PCM 014 2026, this state reorganized the Ministry of Social Development and it set up the General Office for Indigenous and Afro Hungarian peoples as a technical operational body responsible for promoting the comprehensive development of these peoples.
At national and territorial levels.
It uses an intercultural human rights based approach.
Its responsibilities were not just left to practice alone.
They are actually defined in the decree itself.
Among them, we have the development of measures to prevent and eradicate racism and discrimination and to follow up on the national and international legislative framework on equality, rights and non discrimination.
This office went from having a budget of 1.5 million to 10 million in 2026, as well as an increase of 566%.
It is unprecedented in this area.
At the same time, the Office for the Protection of ethnicities has doubled its budget since 2020 and is extending its territorial reach.
Now, it operates in Tella and it has headquarters in La Esperanza in Puerto Empira in order to increase criminal prosecution in these areas.
Since 2023, we set up an interinstitutional technical roundtable for Indigenous and Afro Honduran people.
As well as a consultation process with 54 strategic stakeholders, which led to the creation of a document entitled Foundation for Building a New Comprehensive Policy.
These institutions work hand in hand with the peoples.
Also, we would like to notify you that we have opened up three new houses of culture.
In La Ca, Eriona and Porto Limpira a national Safeguard plan for languages with its draft bill, which is General draft on languages.
Regarding the adoption of public policies against racism, we have to say the public policy against racism and racial discrimination 2016, 2026 ends this year.
The one that will follow it is the comprehensive policy for Indigenous and 100 people, 2027, 2032.
It is built on the foundation of a process of consultation that started back in 2023, as well as on some consultations with non indigenous peoples and participation of thousands of representatives, including their experience in the previous policy and the participation legitimacy.
We have social programs for the 2007 most vulnerable villages in our country.
Thank you.
Well, and to add to that answer, the Office of Human Rights currently is updating its public policy and its National Action Plan for Human Rights, 2027 2037 through consultations in the country's 18 departments.
It has 37 specific actions underway for indigenous and Afro Honguran people with a yearly allocation of approximately 7 million mpiras.
The diagnosis focuses specifically on Indigenous and Afro Hoduran people with regional workshops carried out in Cologne, Atlantida Gracias a Dios, Islas de la Balla, Itibuca La Pas, and Francisco Morosan.
Regarding recognition, the National Congress institutionalized the Month of African heritage through a legislative decree, Legislative decree 28 25, which every year highlights the Afro Honduran contribution to our national identity.
On the second international decade for people of African descent, 2025, 2034, this state has been defining the national priorities in keeping with the government plan 2026, 2030 in consultation with Afro Honduran organizations and will present in writing the main thrust of its priorities as well as the timetable for the consultation and the ultimate approval of the comprehensive public policy.
Now, I would like to give the floor for access to justice and complaints to the Deputy Director Maria Tejana representing the prosecutor's office.
Adré the question on access to justice and complaints on racial discrimination, we would like to say that the state of Honduras has improved the capacities of the Office of Special Prosecutor for ethnic groups and Cultural Heritage.
Its budget has increased by 115% since 2020, along with measures seeking to extend its reach and operational capacity in the territories of indigenous and Afro Honduran peoples.
Additionally, the Office of the prosecutors has been including its its yearly operational plans, a project aimed at improving its research capabilities and territorial coverage with a view of guaranteeing effective access to justice.
Further, with the support of Spanish cooperation, we have a specialized protocol which was developed to investigate violence against indigenous and Afro Honduran women.
It uses a human rights approach, as well as intercultural and gender perspectives.
Protocol is currently undergoing a validation before signature by the Attorney General.
Another important progress we have made a status to legislative decree 1112026, the Supreme Court of Justice is mandated to create specialized legal bodies with national territorial reach.
For trying feminicide and other types of violence against women.
2024-2026, the Public Prosecutor Service logged 372 complaints, of which 31 concerned cases of discrimination and incitement to discrimination.
Involving the Garifuna, Lana, Mesquitu and Pesh peoples.
Out of these cases, four have been brought before the courts for the cases of the Karfuna and Lana peoples.
Honduras will continue to strengthen its institutional mechanisms so that every indigenous and Afro Honduran person that brings a event of discrimination to light will to find specialized, accessible, effective responses that respect their rights.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
And now I would like to give the floor to Director Javier Canales representing the Office of the Attorney General, addressing the rulings of the Inter American Court.
Chair Rapporteur, To answer the questions that were made and speaking as a representative of the Attorney General's Office on how we are meeting the rulings of the Inter American Court of Human Rights, provide information on international investment arbitration regarding the controversies in the Zed areas and its effects.
In the case of abuse, Mosquito versus Honduras, the Interstitutional Commission for addressing and preventing problems in dive fishing was created through an executive decree, PCM 003 2012, and is still coordinating actions in order to comply with the judgment.
In order to improve this process, the reparations have been grouped together according to the rights they are protecting.
We have identified the institutions responsible and the actions that are required for their progressive implementation.
Now, this practice promotes comprehensive, coordinated response with the participation of the legal representative of the victims.
Among the main achievements, we have the public Act acknowledging international responsibility, the purchase of a hyperbaric chamber for Puerto Limpua Grasso C Dios, progress in payment of compensation for pecuniary and non pecuniary damage, as well as improving the oversights and monitoring activities of die fishing activities, among other measures aimed at meeting the ruling within the framework of the CMP.
Regarding the ruling of the Grief and the people, we created an intersectorial high level commission through executive decree PCM 032024 of March 26, 2024.
In order to work with indigenous communities and finding actions to implement the measures included in each of the rulings.
We had three regular sessions organized in different parts of the country.
We also adopted an action plan.
We published a resolution for the registration of territories as indicated by the regional court and the ruling.
There should be restricted to approximately over 300 abstentions of registration on ancestral land, and we drafted three budgets for holding technical workshops and three communities to demarcate the the area and to have declarations regarding the ruling of the Gria people in P Pia in October, November 2024, we had two full working days in order to provide the titles to the Gfuna community, as well as gathering information and having surveying in the area.
As a result of this action, we've been able to carry out the geo referiation activities for the areas on which the land titles in dispute, as well as pertaining to ancestral land claims in the community.
We've also made progress in lifting sworn statements and occupation by third parties of disputed lands in this area.
That said, given the complex context in the region, the technical work of compiling information has encountered some difficulties, which means that the resumption of said work is still pending whilst we resolve those challenges.
On the economic development and employment zones, the Zs, the Office of the Prosecutor General is currently intervening in the representation of the general interests of the state and the people of Honduras, taking into account the ruling of the Constitutional Chamber in two investment cases brought before it administered by the International Center for the Settlements relating to investment related to the aforementioned Z zones.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for the questions which we hope we've answered.
We apologize if we haven't been able to cover everything, but if that's not being the case, please let us know.
We'll likely do that in the second round of follow up questions or we can send you the relevant information in writing.
Thank you very much.
I thank the delegation for their replies.
I now open the floor for brief follow up questions by the country rapporteur, co rapporteurs, and other members of the committee.
You have about 10 minutes for this.
Daniel Vcentavasquez.
Thank you very much indeed.
Chair.
Thank you for giving me the floor once again.
As my first order of business in this round of follow up questions, I would like to thank the distinguished delegation of Honduras for the replies furnished thus far to the various questions that I put to them at the beginning of this interaction.
I'm fully aware that I asked you a lot of questions.
I wasn't have an answer questions, and you've managed to touch upon some of my queries in your replies, the replies that we heard from the representatives of various different state institutions.
That said, I think there are some questions that I do need to repeat, although as the head of delegation in Honduras has just pointed out to us, you do have the opportunity, of course, to share information later to answer these questions that you have not yet answered later in your responses to these follow up questions or to share responses in writing.
And it might be useful to have some of that information via that medium.
Now it is my understanding that you don't yet have the socioeconomic indicators or a full set of socioeconomic indicators, but if I understood your replies correctly, you hope to have some of them via the census that's currently underway.
It is our hope that once that census is concluded, you'll be able to share the missing socioeconomic indicators with us because that will be very useful information not just for this committee, but also for key stakeholders in Honduras in order to be able to fully assess the state of play as it comes to the enjoyment of rights by Hondurans, particularly those enshrined in our convention, the Convention on the elimination of racial discrimination or CRT.
One other element that I would like to highlight was that I did receive replies and I'm grateful for that to my questions about training activities under paragraphs 13 and 14.
Nonetheless, I may have missed something, but it seems to me that you in your replies, simply reiterated the fact that these trainings were very well received with regard to the content on human rights.
But I think we have a lack of precise and specific information as to the content of these training courses on the specific provisions of this convention.
So given that you have the standing training courses, it would be helpful if it did include specific training on the provisions of this convention and that you could reassure that that is the case so that it will be the case going forward.
Now, one point that was raised by the public prosecutor's office and the judiciary, and I thank them for that, although there are still some gaps that need to be plugged, is that a whole issue of the registry of civil society organizations and their headquarters because there was a refusal to recognize the status of at least one civil society organization in a court because of their indigenous status.
It is my understanding that there is a process underway for training and self identification for the judiciary so that similar instances do not occur in the future.
I'd welcome more information about that.
Now, we reviewed articles 211 to 213 of your Criminal Code.
And on the basis of that review and analysis, we continue to be a view that there is undue restriction that takes the guise of undue restriction that might be tantamount to racial discrimination.
I would like to pick up on something that was flagged by the member of parliament who's part of the delegation, who's here with us in the room who talked about the draft law that you're intending to enact and adopt on anti discrimination legislation and the request for technical support, and we'd be happier to respond to that request for technical support as you draft that legislation.
On anti discrimination that might plug the gaps or address the concerns that we have about Articles 211 to 213 in your Constitution.
I've picked those three.
I beg your pardon, not the Constitution, the Criminal Code.
I picked those three, but there are various other articles of the Criminal Code which are troubling in terms of the potential racial discrimination that they harbor and I could also flag, but I didn't do so in the interests of time.
All of that would newly need to be factored in.
Hopefully, that can be addressed via the request for technical support.
That would also be something that's pertinent to the point that was made about the Garfuno community.
There's the Gaocin Marine archipelago, for example, which I have some concerns about and the fact that that has not been duly recognized perhaps on racial discrimination grounds.
I'd welcome a response to that concern in the next sentence of response.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I'll give the floor to Mr.
Guan, the court reporter, first for all further questions.
Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr.
Chairman, let me join our colleagues by warmly welcoming the delegation of Honduras to the committee.
I thank the delegation for their replies and introductions, which are very useful.
I would like to learn more about the domestic procedures of Honduras for executing the judgment of the Inter American Court of Human Rights.
For example, which domestic authority serves as the highest coordinating body for the execution of the court judgment.
Which sectors of the country supervise the whole process of executing of execution of the court judgment, which sectors evaluate the effects and the outcomes of the execution of the court judgment.
If the party concerned is not satisfied with the execution of the judgment, they remedy procedures to demand more effective execution of the judgment, and it seems to be the case.
What are the remedy procedures? Could the delegation and give you some brief introduction on this issue.
Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Thank you, Mr.
Guan.
Mr.
Sabane, would you like to take the floor? Mr.
Sabane.
The court reporter.
The floor is open for all the members.
I don't see any member asking for the floor, so I will immediately return to the delegation.
Madam A Master, you have 20 minutes to answer the questions that are raised.
Thank you.
Thank you very much Chair.
To begin with our replies to this topic, we'll begin by giving the floor to Magistrate Isabel Buz representing the Supreme Court of Justice.
Thank you very much, Head of Delegation.
Thank you, Chair.
With regard to specialized training, I'm pleased to be able to share with you that, yes, that we have provide specialized training.
Between 2024 and June of 2026, there have been at least six specialized academic events focused on the rights of indigenous peoples and Afro Hondurans bringing together some 170 judges, magistrates, and public prosecutors.
And representing some 86 hours of instructional training.
The content of that training included the issue of the protection of indigenous people's rights, interculturality, and international standards, conventional oversight, criminal procedures and non discrimination.
In addition, we can also refer that 41 judges, magistrates from the Court of Appeals also received training on conventional oversight.
And 15 judges were trained as trainers in order to ensure that we can expand this training to other areas of the country.
On the specific issue of discrimination in 2024 and 2025, we had five specialized events bringing together some 122 civil servants representing 104 training hours focusing on a a non discriminatory conduct.
In the first quarter of 2026, some 100 judicial staff were trained on legal equality, conventional oversight, and non discrimination.
In general terms, we're able to share with you that 24-2026, our judicial training school held at least 41 different workshops.
800 plus judicial operators who were trained and some 500 plus hours of training covering areas such as territorial rights, Inter American court rulings, and dispute prevention and resolution.
These are not standalone cases of training.
We have a standing program via which is delivered by a judicial training school.
The Department of International Relations and Human Rights has a training program delivered to Afro Hondurans and indigenous peoples.
It includes technical content, focuses on interculturality in the context therefore, as well as training and international standards and conventional oversight.
That would be my response to your question about specialized training and capacity building.
Of course, the State of Honduras Vrus judiciary continues to stand ready to provide further training to all judicial operators and to all of our judges.
Thank you very much.
Many thanks indeed.
Madam, we next give the floor To my colleague Canals on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General to respond to the questions that were asked about various different court rulings and other related questions.
Thank you very much, Distinguished Country Rapporteur.
In line with the study, the team identified the institutional framework responsible for enactment of all of the sentences, which is pursued in line with inter American system.
Now the Office of the Attorney General follows up on all of these cases.
In the mosquito divers case, for example, This is being followed up by the Caped body.
The Office of the Attorney General provides support.
In the Kikcin case, we have worked closely with the community so they understand the sentence to understand the ruling, which is a fairly fresh ruling only a few months ago so they understand its impact implications and we are coordinating with the community, as well as with the co administrative offices in order to ensure that the community can fully enact the ruling and have access.
Thank you very much.
Many thanks indeed, colleague.
On the questions that were asked about the Attorney General's office, I will give the floor to my colleague Maria Tejada.
Thank you very much.
The Office of the At General Public Prosecutor's Office when it comes to capacity building activities for our staff and for judicial staff, and in particular for prosecutors has a training school for the Office of the Attorney General, and we use this training school to train and provide education to prosecutors, investigators, and other judicial staff who've been invited to participate in these courses, including courses on international standards for indigenous peoples.
And on the crisis of encroachment, discrimination, environmental crimes.
We had a course recently, for example, in Kagay City bringing together 32 participants, including 25 prosecutors, three forensic doctors and other external staff and auxiliary judicial staff.
We've also provided training for prosecutors on indigenous peoples and offering Honduran rights.
A training course was recently delivered in San Pedro Sulu, bringing together 28 participants, including prosecutors, judges, and external staff.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Chair.
In order to flesh out the replies to some of the questions, particularly questions put to the Ministry of Human Rights, we'd like to point to the strengthening of the legal framework which entered into force via legislative decree 111 of 2026, which bolstered the penalties for femicide, including as an exacerbating factor if a woman was part of an indigenous or Afro descendant community.
And with specialized jurisdictional orders and courts to respond to these cases.
We'd also like to highlight the steps that we have taken to raise the profile and understanding of intersectional violence.
We have 32 cases of femicide involving indigenous peoples and Afro Honuran women 2019-2026, including three female human rights defenders and three female leaders.
And we have focused on these cases to ensure that the ethnic factor was understood as an exacerbating factor.
We also provide specialized advice to the judiciary.
We have a protocol that's been put in place to investigate cases of violence against indigenous or Afro Honduran women.
This protocol is currently being strengthened, fine tuned, and validated by the Special Prosecutor's Office for Indigenous Afro Honduran peoples.
We also have public policies that we've enacted with interinsectional focus.
Including the national policy for women 2026 2036, which include measures to bolster linguistic access and to ensure a differentiated approach is taken to cases involving indigenous and or Afro Honduran women.
The cross cutting nature of the gender focus has now been ensured in 80 of 102 state institutions and has also been a key party incorporated in the budgets, ensuring gender sensitive budgeting in these institutions.
I would like to once again reiterate the state's commitment enacted by this delegation to be open and frank and to share with you that any outstanding answers will be sent to you in writing in line with the provisions of this committee, and in line with the time frames decided by this committee.
But having made that point, I would like to give the floor to my colleague Krišto Martinez from the Ministry of Human Rights.
Thank you very much indeed.
As far as statistical data is concerned on migrants and refugees, the National Migration Institute has updated statistical information on persons in a human mobility context, including migrants, those requesting refugee status, and those who've been granted refugee status.
This means that we can share with you disaggregated data based on sex, age, and nationality.
On the basis of ethnic origin, this variable is being systematized and updated in order to ensure that it's included in all the registries of the National Migration Institute.
The National Migration Institute has in the interim enacted measures to better identify the status of persons entering the country, including interviews, interviews to determine vulnerability, and improving the forms that need to be completed to request refugee or asylum seeker status.
With clear fields, which means that it's possible for us going forward to identify those who come from indigenous people's groups.
This means that we are able to provide for their specific protection needs and provide them with a differentiated approach in terms of care and support.
The National Migration Institute will continue to strengthen efforts to systematically collect data and to ensure that we can have a greater deggregation of data that can be shared on a broader basis across our institution and related institutions, including the principle of self identification.
Thank you very much indeed.
I think that concludes our round of replies to your follow up questions, Chair.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Madam Minister, we will now break for 5 minutes.
Okay.
Welcome back.
We will now start the segment two.
Are we connected to the Capitol? Yes.
I will give the floor to the country Co rapporteur, Mr.
Sande, who will put questions.
Yes.
Welcome back.
Segment two, we will start with the co rapporteur, Mr.
Sabane and you will have the floor for 20 minutes, Mr.
Sabane.
So much Chair.
Let me also warmly welcome the delegation of the Republic of Honduras, both here in Geneva and also in the Capitol.
As introduced by the chair, this second segment will address a couple of things whereby we need to have a dialogue with the delegation.
I will start the first part with relation to Article 4 of the Convention on hate speech, hate crimes, incitement to racial hatred and xenophobia.
So if we look at Article 6 of the Honduras Constitution, it says that all men are born free and equal rights, and there are no privileged classes and that all Hondurans are equal before the law.
It broad declares punishable or discrimination on account of sex, race, class, or any other reason prejudicial human dignity.
In February 2013, National Congress passed decree number 23 13, which amended Article 321 of the previous Penal Code and established specific protections and hate claims aggravating factors.
However, under paragraph 24 of the state party report, data collected in 2013 National Population and Housing Census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and the total population of indigenous and Afroand people was being put in the report at 71700618 of whom 356 are men and 60 110 are women.
Would the delegation update the committee on information data statist Nation to systematic discrimination, hate speech, hate claims, incitement threshold, hatred and xenophobia against Afro descendants and indigenous communities, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, including challenges in developing and implementing legislation to address these matters.
Because the current report only talks about the population.
It doesn't go to the extent of providing data on issues of hate speech as outlined.
Further, would the delegation update the community in data and statics in relation to racially motivated violent crimes and hate incidences directed at the people of Lanca, mosquito, P people, Grafuna, Maycot, Topan, Tuk, Na, Bay Island who are English speaking black creo, including which cases were thoroughly prosecuted through the just system and appropriate remedies were offered to the victims.
Only the same dep reforms to the Criminal Code, Hondurans, Honduras has not fully incorporated requirements of Article 4 of the International Convention on the National of all forms of racial discrimination.
The registration criminalizes certain forms of incitement to discrimination and violence, but does not explicitly prohibit the dissemination of ideas on racial superiority or racial hatred, nor does it specifically address participation or financing of racist activities.
Would the delegation therefore update this committee, the plans being made to make sure that the registration in Honduras prohibits dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred and that the registration is able to address and deal with issues of participation and financing of racist activities.
On the same point, Articles 139, 143 and 144 of the Criminal Code relating to crimes against humanity, genocide and their related forms may be related to Article 4 of the convention, especially paragraph A A, when they are directed against racial, ethnic, or national group, However, the view of this committee is that the application of these provisions above is subject to contextual and subjective elements and the higher severity threshold.
Would the delegation update the committee if at all, there are plans to further examine these provisions so that they fully comply with Article 4A of the Convention, which says that states shall declare an offense punishable by all source of discrimination ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement, racial discrimination, and so on.
Would the delegation further update this committee on measures being taken to address issues of hate speech, hate crimes, incitement, racial hatred, xenophobia with a focus on data, on the legislative instruments being implemented to address this by involving various players in the justice sector, especially in the ability for the government to monitor effectiveness of this legislation.
Again, on the hate speech, the committee is aware of the complaints lodged by the Black Flattering Organization of Honduras with the public prosecutor's office against the media and private individuals for acts that could constitute the offense of incitement to discrimination.
Among the complaints is the one filed in 2025 by members of California people.
Would the delegation update this committee on the status of this case from the public prosecutor's office and also provide further information on the complaints that have been lodged and investigated and where appropriate prosecution has been taken, at the same time that proper remedies has been offered to the victims.
On the same point, will the delegation provide information on cases of hate speech, hate claims, incitement, racial hatred and xenophobia complained and recorded through media, conduct or Internet or other social platforms, including those committed by public authorities.
Which public institution pursue these cases within the justice sector of Honduras.
Can you have data on concluded cases and remedies offered, including concerning indigenous peoples under foreign descendants, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees? Would the delegation provide information and data on cases of hate speech, hate climbs, and incitement to racial, hatred and xenophobia? When cases concerning the private sector and big corporations and state institutions? Would the delegation providing information on the steps that are being taken that when cases are lodged, they are not subjected to judicial delays, corruption, and lack of resources, leaving those complaints uninvestigated and prosecuted.
A still of time, I'll move to the National Human Rights Institution.
Under paragraph 34 of the state party report, the National Commission on Human Rights is the National Human Rights Institution.
And has consumer status and is compliant to the PS principles.
And therefore, it has the appropriate framework of seeing the implementation of the convention.
And this institution is known in Spanish as Coco National de los deloc humanos.
And in this papers, I Coladesh.
The concern is that this institution lacks full independence, operates with insufficient funds or lack of meeting the demands of the budget, and as a result, it has problems in dealing with the structural impunity by the state and also abuses that are recorded.
Would delegation update this committee on the information it has in terms of making sure that the institution operates independently, is properly funded and is able to deal with cases.
The committee has come across concerns of political interference, including the role of national Congress during appointment process.
Would the delegation explain to this committee the role of National Congress when it comes to appointment of members of Conggladesh? Again, going back to the issue of appointment at Cogladesh, the committee wants to hear from the delegation gaps that are there in terms of merit based, transparent criteria, which threatens the functional autonomy and international accreditation standing way in terms of achieving human rights in Honduras.
Yes, Coangladesh achieved status A, but it has been observed that the selection sometimes bypasses conual procedures, lacks transparency, and the shed Congress as earlier on stated, would the delegation update this committee on measures being taken to make sure that the appointment of members of Codesh reflects principles of autonomy and independence.
Again, we know that Coanladesh has a broad mandate of receiving complaints and documenting these violations.
However, what the committee has on the table is that Codesh can only forward cases to the public ministry, leaving it structurally unable to guarantee prosecutions and dismantle in social impunity.
Would delegation update the committee on police and legal forms that are being considered to make sure that Cosh independence works and works into the satisfaction of citizens and that all cases that have been referred to the public ministry are properly investigated, prosecuted, and remedies offered.
Um Going back to the issues of resources again, the point is that Kangladesh lacks true financial autonomy.
There's information of shortage of qualified personnel, specialized technical staff trained to handle complex humans violations.
Would the delegation provide information on the financial autonomy of Kangladesh and also what kind of support is being made to make sure that Kangdesh has qualified personnel, specialized technical staff, and they are able to respond to all complaints of human rights.
I will now go to issue of retained and deported Hondurans, in particular, indigenous peoples and people of Afghan descent and integration measures.
Retained and deported Hondurans from third countries, particularly indigenous people and people of Afghan descent like the Gal face structural discrimination, threats, transsual lands, and the critical gaps when it comes to the integration and support.
Would the delegation provide information, including segregated data? By country where they retained, but also in terms of sex, age, and ethnicity of those deported.
At the same time, would the delegation provide data on sex, age, ethnicity, on returned persons? We want to hear from the delegation on those deported, but also those who have retained.
Would the delegation update the committee on policy and let's say the framework on integration and especially involving indigenous and descendants people to where they belong? Would we are in this manner looking for data and information? On the same point, Honduras enacted a decree number 73 2026 to facilitate repatriation and socioeconomic integration.
However, human rights organizations note that assistance often stops at the reception door.
Indigenous and a fraudulent population experience abuses throughout migration circuits, driven by historical incity and pressures on traditional lines.
Despite legal framework, Communities face delays on the demarcation and sanitation of ancestral territories compounded by insecurity of retaining members.
Detainees belonging to these communities often detained to regions destabilized by extensive industries, is in development and plan oil protections.
The integration initiatives often fail to address localized violence, high unemployment, and risk of re displacement.
The committee has information that immediate reception, logistics, such as food, and transport are provided, but long term psychological, legal, and economic support systems are largely absent.
Would delegation update the committee on the policy and legal framework reforms being taken to address these challenges that Tes face.
On the same point as Area on stated, let the delegation provide data in terms of sex, age, ethnicity, only the facilitation processes that the government has done through so far.
I now move to issues of internal force displacement of internally displaced persons, and also information on measures being taken to effectively implement the law for prevention, care and protection of internally displaced persons.
Honduras needs to protect indigenous people and people of African descent, such as Galfun from forced internal displacement.
There are reports of state sanctioned extractivism, systematic impunity, and lack of tenure protections and organized crime drive continuous cycle violent displacements and territorial dispositions.
Communities frequently reports that local police and juries fail to investigate threats or provide safety in some severe cases.
They are armed actors forcing communities off their land, and these armed factors or actors are not brought to book to be accountable? Would the delegation provide data and information and that this should be segregated on internally displaced persons.
This also should be disregarded by sex, age, and ethnic origin, especially involving indigenous and aflscant people to which they belong? Would the delegation provide information on causes of internal force and efforts to address them? Would the delegation provide information on ability to deal with the armed groups that easily target indigenous and afflu descendants? Therefore, with the delegation update the committee on comprehensive policy and legal framework reforms being taken to deal with matters of forced internal displacement, particularly those involving indigenous people and people of Afghan descent.
The committee has information that about 423,845 people are currently internally displaced within Honduras due to generalized violence, this represents about 4.5% of the population.
The key factors being outlined are gang, territorial control, forced recruitment of children, extortion, gender based violence, climate vulnerability, storms, hurricanes, droughts, and so on.
Would the delegation provide information on measures being taken to effectively implement the law for prevention, care, and protection of internal dispatched persons and its impact on indigenous and fusendant persons.
Would the delegation update as earlier stated on security measures being taken to control violence and limit internal displacement, especially when dealing with indigenous and fsendant persons? I will go further and look at the issue of refugee status, which I think in the first segment was partly tackled.
I'll just have additional questions because the chair earlier on gave me an opportunity to ask questions, but I realized that I have 20 minutes to ask, so I will bring forward that question only to ask.
Would the delegation provide segregated data on the regularization and integration of non citizens and measures to remove administrative and other obstacles at all levels of government to hinder migrants, asylum seekers and refugees from accessing health, education, and labor market? Would the delegation provide information on measures taken to protect migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, in particular, women and children belonging to these groups from violence, protect them from violence, including disappearances and gender based violence extortion, racial profiling, labor, and sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons and other human rights violations, and information on investigation sanctions imposed as well as deparration granted to victims and their families? Would the delegation provide data on these vulnerable groups as part of addressing racial discrimination among refugees and migrants.
Thank you, Chair.
At least I have awarded 1 minute to the delegation for my 20 minutes.
Thank you, Mr.
Sbande.
I return the floor to the delegation or you have 25 minutes.
We cannot hear you.
Can you hear me now? Yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We're grateful to the distinguished co rapporteur for the questions and we will try to address them in the same order that they were asked.
I therefore give the floor for 3 minutes to the Deputy Director Maria Tejeda, representing the Public Prosecution Service to address the issue of hate speech and incitement to hate speech.
Thank you.
I'm representing the Public Prosecution Service of Honduras and we reaffirm the commitment of the state party with the prevention and eradication of all forms of racial discrimination and compliance with the obligations undertaken by virtue of the International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.
Honduras has bolstered its prevention mechanisms and criminal investigation measures in the face of hate speech and racial discrimination.
The Special Prosecutor for Protection of ethnicity and cultural heritage is investigating 31 complaints of discrimination and incitement to hatred recorded 2024-2026 pertaining to incidents that involve the Garfuna Lan mosquito and perch communities.
The Public Prosecution Service has ensured appropriate training in line with international standards of many prosecutors, judges, and legal officials in order to guarantee respect and protection for human rights for indigenous and Afro Honduran people.
I'd highlight four particularly important cases Two against the Lan people and two against the Garfuna where there was an appeal based on the provisions of the International Convention.
In one case, favor was found.
For the Public Prosecution Service.
We also have adopted a preventive approach, recognizing that combating hate speech must begin before the damage occurs.
This is why we have engaged in training and awareness raising for professionals within the communication sphere, 182 journalists and social communicators were thus trained on communicating without stigma.
They were trained in respectful communication, respecting diversity, free of any stigma or discrimination.
Chair distinguished rapporteur, Honduras reaffirms its commitment to continue to strengthen prevention, investigation, and effective prosecution.
Of any manifestation of racial discrimination, thus guaranteeing an institutional specialized response that is culturally sensitive and in line with its international obligations.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I now give the floor to a representative from the National Congress, Honorable Representative David Minis, to address the issue on the institutionality of Human Rights Condi.
Chair, distinguished rapporteur.
In relation to the question on the Coronad, Honduras deeply values the work of this institution and respects the independence that it has.
This respect can be seen in the budget allocated for 2026.
It indeed increased by $4.5 billion and currently, enjoys 5.9 million for its budget.
This is an increase of 30%, which has allowed for a reshuffling of reorganization of salary and skills and capacity of more than 200 employees across the 18 departments of Honduras.
As to the selection appointment of the National Commission for Human Rights, this takes place following the Organic Act and its regulating and its regulation.
However, this National Congress that has been in place for around six months is committed and indeed recognizes the importance that this process should take place in full transparency, participation, and objectively in step with the Paris principles and the requirements that have been established, to be Honduran by birth or also to enjoy human rights and civil rights and full respect on this basis.
Action will take place through bolstering of the internal organs, public hearings, assessment and also self application that makes it possible to ensure that sectors do not fall behind, but they don't find themselves unable to participate.
This can happen in public arena this allows to build trust in the process.
Now, although it's true that in the question you referred to the Commissioner and the investigations that were being conducted, we need to also refer to the harmony and the synergy with the Public Prosecution Service because the National Commission on Human Rights and given the constitutional rank of the Public Prosecution Service, it does not it's not establishing the same ranking.
The goal of the commissioner is to ensure recovery of rights.
I believe that the Condi has received ultimate respect in our country.
Thank you.
We cannot hear you.
I Kevin.
Thank you, Reporter, committee members.
We're going to try to resume our answers, and I'll be speaking on behalf of the Department of Human Human Rights, where we have something to say about people on the move, and we would like to share with you some data, some stats.
Between 2024 and July 2026, the Department of Human Rights dealt with 300 and 374 cases of internal displacement for a total of 1,199 people, including 334 men, 368 women, 247 boys, 236 girls, and 14 people identifying as LGBTQ plus.
Out of this total, 39 cases are for indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
That is 88 people, 35 men, 28 women, 12 boys, and nine girls.
Representing the nine indigenous and Afro Houran peoples in our country, to which Mosquito Pe Lanka, Maya Torti, Tolupan Nahua, Karfuna, and English speaking Black.
I should point out further that right now, In the reports, as we say, the Nahua people is also recognized.
I think this is a question you had earlier.
The main causes behind this displacement involve direct threats, murder, restrictions of movement, physical injury, extortion, sexual and gender based violence, usurpation or dispossession of land, property, and forced recruitment.
During 2024 and as part of the process for implementing the displacement law, a total of five consultation sessions were held.
We call these sessions the Voices of forced displacement in Honduras.
They were held in Tegus Gpa, San Pedro Sulla, Choutea, Las Peranza and La Sba.
A total of 170 people participated, including representative of indigenous peoples.
And Afro Honduran communities, as well as 63 representatives of 29 government institutions and 14 civil society organizations.
These consultations address priority issues such as early warning, education, humanitarian assistance, access to justice, protection of identity, and long lasting solutions.
During that same time, the interinstitutional commission for the Protection of persons forcibly displaced developed and implemented their yearly work plans for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
They coordinated some outreach processes relating to this law, in which 24 state institutions were involved as well as ten municipalities from the most affected departments and 17 civil society organizations.
Over the course of 2025, the sub commission for the Public Policy of the interinstitutional Commission They made progress in developing a methodology for the future national policy in the prevention of internal force displacement due to violence, and it had meetings to collect technical input aligned with national and international standards.
This document still is in the design stage and we have no clear date for its conclusion.
April 2026, the National Institute for Statistics, the INE, along with the Ministry for Human Rights, presented findings on internal displacement, which came from the permanent multipurpose household survey, which showed that 423,845 people were affected by internal displacement, which is equivalent to 4.4 0.5% of the national population.
The first time, this exercise systematically incorporated this phenomenon into the National Statistics production.
During the first half of 2026, the Ministry of Human Rights strengthened institutional governance through a high level meeting of the Commission.
At that meeting, state entities took on specific commitments regarding prevention, protection, and durable solutions.
The same time, progress was made in drafting regulations for the Displacement Act at the hands of a drafting committee comprised of five state institutions, among them the presidency, the Ministry of Human Rights, the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Governance, and the Property Institute, two civil society organizations, Asanok and World Vision, and four international technical assistance organizations, UNHCR, ICRC, NRC, and OHCHR.
We expect to submit the approved regulation to the Office of the President in September 2026 for approval and subsequent publication in the official gazette.
Once approved, these regulations will formally enable the operation of the Fund for assistance and protection of forcibly displaced persons, which will be financing 80% of humanitarian assistance and 20% long lasting solutions for victims.
Will have an estimated budget of 150 million miras, which is about $5.5 million approximately 5,430,000.
Pending challenges.
Well, decentralizing assistance by establishing municipal units for assistance to forcibly displaced persons and to have this in areas inhabited by indigenous and Afro Honduran peoples.
Also, interinstitutional articulation in order to coordinate rights such as health, education, employment, also ensuring legal protection of housing, land, and property, and consolidating sustainable mechanisms for exchanging statistical information among the institutions of the National Response System for force displacement.
Regarding migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, we also have some relevant information.
Honduras is a country of origin, transit, and return.
This triple role shows us that migrants don't distinguish by origin.
Our framework, which is the Migration and Foreign Nationals Act and the refugee status determination procedure is applied in accordance with the principles of nondiscrimination and non refoment in coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner for refugees, and with the regional mechanisms for people on the move in which Honduras is an active participant.
Between one January 2019 and August 2026, the National Migration Institute recorded entry and departure of 18,220,243 individuals in regular migration status and 1,214,369 individuals in irregular migration.
During that same period, 7,838 special residency permits were granted and 5,055 residence permits as part of administrative mechanisms to regularize foreigners in our country.
As part of our human rights based approach to migration management, the National Migration Institute has four centers for assistance to irregular migrants.
They are in Tigusga Choteca, O Cotepeque and Dunle and we also have one center for migrant care in San Pedro Sulla, which provides a temporary care to migrants during the registration and custody procedures, providing food, accommodation, primary health care, psychological support, and humanitarian assistance.
Also, we have referral and coordination mechanisms for people with special protection needs, including accompanied and unaccompanied migrant children, women at risk, older persons, persons with disability, LGBTQ plus population, indigenous peoples, people of African descent, as well as victims of violence, human trafficking, and forced displacement.
2019-2026, the National Institute of Migration received a total of 1,624 asylum applications from people of various nationalities.
Out of these still open, we have 415.
108 have received favorable decisions.
Of these, 15 subsequently formally renounced the refugee status.
19 persons have been granted complimentary protection, 28 have resettled with the support of UNHCR.
So far, 649 applications have lapsed, 144 have been withdrawn, and today 250 people have been granted the status of a refugee.
That concludes our segment.
Thank you, Reporter.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Your Excellency, Madam Ambassador, you have saved the procedure.
I will turn to D.
Country rapporteur and other members of the task force for follow up questions.
Mr.
Guan asked for the floor.
Just to say the delegation is now connected online.
They can listen.
Yeah.
Mr.
Guan, you have the floor? Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
I thank and appreciate the delegation for their response and introductions.
As we all know, with regard to racist hate speech, apart from punishing all of those acts, preventing those acts from happening is also very important.
I heard the introduction made by the delegation just now in this regard and I greatly appreciate the work done by the third party, especially in training media professionals.
I want to know what role the media and the Internet play in how is the media performing in preventing and combating racist hate speech.
I think you, Mr.
Chairman.
Thank you, Mr.
Bane.
Just to echo Mr.
Hwang, we thanking the delegation for the responses.
However, Chair, I noticed that the delegation, when it comes to issues of hate speech and hate claims, they have not yet offered information on the ability to record cases involving private sector, especially big corporations who are seen that they can be able to practice racial discrimination, hate speech, hate crimes and go away with that.
I haven't heard the comment on private sector and the big corporations who are involved in a number of economic activities in Honduras.
On the same point, Chair, I think I'm not sure how much time we have.
I see it's 8 minutes.
I wanted also, I think the delegation to just give more information when it comes to training.
I was interested on the information are on strengthening the education, especially the curriculum and training programs involving teachers, other professionals in public sector, particularly in relation to the convention and fight against racial discrimination and xenophobia.
Then in that way, we would hear maybe data on civic education and awareness campaign and training programs, especially also involving law enforcement agency, lawyers, judges, and other public officers.
I was also interested to hear from the delegation on the kind of trainings they have done from the recommendation this committee made in 2018, because the same issues were raised, I would want to hear what is it that they did from 2018 recommendations by this committee.
Also in terms of representation of indigenous and Afro descendant people when it comes to development of curriculum and textbooks, especially at all levels, even the regions of Honduras chair.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Senor Vicente Vasquez, you have the floor.
Thank you, Chair.
I too would like to thank the distinguished delegation of Honduras.
And I do understand the difficulties in trying to answer now.
And if we can't get answers now, then we should provide an opportunity for them to give us the information, which after all is what we want, the information.
I'd like to go back to Conard.
I appreciate the answer, saying that we appreciate the work of that institution and that this in part is seen by an increase in its budget and that the appointments are done based on some of our recommendations.
And that they're mindful of the Paris principles.
But it was also said that this appointment process will be done pursuant to the regulations.
I would like to say that the UN team, among other things, recommended to reform the organic law of the institution.
That's found in a public document, document A slash RC slash wg dot six slash 50 slash nd slash two of August 22nd, 2025.
Let me.
I would also like to point out the statement of the High Commissioner, according to which ill treatment of the people deprived of Liberty, Kate, and the National Prevention Mechanism were subject to campaigns from penitentiary authorities.
The High Commissioner has noted this in document A HRC slash 61 slash 19 of February 4th, 2026.
And in that regard, I would like to ask If the recommendation presented by the UN team before the election and appointment of the national Commissioner could be followed.
I would like to ask what measures are going to be taken to combat the campaign seeking to tarnish the reputation of an institution that promotes and protects the human rights of people in your distinguished country.
Thank you.
Is open.
Madam Stalinki Thank you, Mr.
Chair and let me warmly welcome the esteemed delegation of Honduras.
I'm sorry that delegation from the Capitol has been interrupted the connection I would like to go back to these four cases of hate speech since we have the time.
If I understood well, one of those there was someone who was convicted, the perpetrator.
One out of four speech cases.
Uh, targeting the communities we're discussing.
I would like to have something more than numbers, probably explain to us when this is possible, what exactly make the difference that will help us understand important things for the implementation of this provision.
Was it about uh we will understand more about evidence, we will understand about the standard of review.
If it's not possible now, of course, we can receive the information later.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The floor is still open.
Mr.
Banda.
Just taking advantage of the 2 minutes time that we have as the delegation prepares to answer some of the questions that we have already put on the floor.
I think if they could add also some sort of information and data on awareness programs and initiatives to address the history of slavery.
And colonialism and their consequences because that has an impact on how we address issues of racial discrimination.
As they explained that, we'll be interested to hear the curriculum that has been developed on how to address issues of slavery and colonialism, and also in terms of the data whereby they can show that indigenous and Afro descendant people have participated in this kind of awareness related issues of slavery and colonialism chair.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Madam Sardinai, I see your tag.
Okay.
I will turn the floor to the delegation to reply to the follow up questions.
You have 25 minutes if you'd like.
Please, the floor is yours.
Chair, I would just like to make sure you can hear me.
Am I coming through? Madam Minister, we can hear you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We regret that technical issue we just had and we'd like to thank the distinguished ambassador for how she stepped in and continued with the presentation.
I would like now to recognize Attorney Crisllo Martinez from the Ministry of Human Rights, who will be addressing different topics that you have raised as questions and comments.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Now I'll be answering questions on internal displacement.
According to the statistical Anects of the National Migration Institute of Honduras, regular migration flow coming in was 18,220,243 travelers.
Out of these, 10,996,222 were foreigners and 7,224,021 Honduran nationals.
Among the main foreign nationalities, we have the United States, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Spain.
Also, irregular migration flow reached 1,214,369 people.
Among them, the main nationalities were Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Ecuador, China, Guinea, India, and Senegal.
Regarding the breakdown by gender of the irregular migrant population, 51.22% are Magna and 27% women, whereas 21.76% of the remaining amount is boys and girls, children.
This data show the sheer magnitude and diversity of the migration flows that come into and go through Honduran territory, including a significant amount of people in irregular mobility.
Now, I have some additional data on displaced persons from the Department Ministry of Human Rights.
774 cases that we have addressed family groups.
That's 1,199 internally displaced people overall.
334 of them are men, 368 women, 247 boys, 236 girls, and 14 people that identify as LGBTQ plus.
Out of these 39 cases are representatives indigenous or Afro Haran people, a total of 88 individuals, 35 men, 28 women, 12 boys, and nine girls.
This is for 2024 to July 2026.
So on education and human rights, it is important to point out that regarding human rights education and combating discrimination, for the time frame 2000-24 and June 2026, there was investment of 11.8 million mpiras.
28,468 people were trained on human rights.
Among them, civil servants, people in law enforcement, members of civil society organizations, and just the population at large.
Training sought to cover the obligations under the Convention, that is the protection, promotion of human rights, gender equality, prevention of discrimination, and fostering a culture of peace.
The program also includes the following courses.
Training on the rights of indigenous peoples in the prevention of torture.
1,153 military staff members benefited from this and they have been employed in Gracios Dios in La Mosquita.
There was also a course on the prevention of discrimination, which benefited 283 people belonging to the general public members of civil society.
Also, we had a training of 637 civil servants of the Ministry of Education.
Also, it's important to highlight the capacity building of the teachers of Lanca, Tolupan and Mesquita peoples for the bilingual intercultural educational centers using educational practices that are based on respect, equality, and non discrimination.
Culturally in the area of languages, well, the state has produced educational material in Garfuna Peach and Taua languages and we're implementing the National language to protect languages as part of the International Decade of Indigenous languages.
As for the school program through ministerial Agreement A 11 65 SE 2019, it was agreed to declare, make official, implement, monitor, and assess the operation of the new bilingual intercultural educational model, which covers comprehensive education, with the identity of indigenous peoples and Afro Hondurans.
This is part of a state policy and working through the Ministry of Education.
The National School program now has content aimed at recognizing the historic effect of slavery and colonialism, along with valuing the heritage and the contribution of indigenous and Afro Honduran people through teacher training and pedagological activities.
By having this curriculum legally protected at the national and international level, we are ensuring that we have a bilingual educational model which raises the profile and respects the worldview of indigenous communities, and it addresses the state goals of social inclusion and cohesion.
The memory of transatlantic trade and the Gifuna African legacy is part of the research, the publication, and the presentations made by the Ministry of Culture.
State is also moving forward along two different thrusts seeking improvements under areas of interest to the committee.
One is to include the ethnic variable to our training register in order to be able to better answer the question, how many people of each group are participating.
At the same time, we want to move forward towards the translation of the convention and the observations of this committee into our people's languages.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir, and now the representative of the next office.
Go ahead.
Thank you.
On the consultation for cases of discrimination, our department has a hierarchy, as you've seen it.
We have the Special prosecution's Office of the cities and Cultural Heritage.
This office has an earmark budget of 17,148,065 mpiras to address cases of discrimination.
Responding to the question about the number of complaints from the Gathuna people.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Indigenous Nafro Honduran people has registered 84 complaints 2024-2026, 49 of which are currently still under investigation, 16 have been duly prosecuted or have gone through trial.
Nine have been dismissed on administrative grounds because the necessary evidentiary elements were not in place to amount to a crime for investigation and two have been resolved by the court, one of which resulted in a non conviction, and one which is going before the causation court.
In one case there was an acquittal and one case has been passed up to the Court of Cosation.
There is a particular case involving violence and discrimination, which was resolved via reconciliation or mediation effort.
On training processes and procedures, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has implemented mechanisms to provide specialized support in the regional divisions for indigenous peoples and Afro Honduran.
Local prosecutors and regional prosecutors in their respective offices receive cases or complaints related to discrimination, although where they lack staff trained for inter intercultural sensitivity, then this is a gap that must be plugged and we're working on providing courses on to cultural sensitivity and others to the staff in these regional offices in order to ensure that they are in a position to be able to provide holistic and differentiated treatment and support to plaintiffs from these groupings.
We have included international standards in the training that we have delivered, including international standards on the rights of indigenous peoples, indigenous people's rights in practice as opposed to in theory, how to implement and uphold the rights of indigenous peoples and Hondurans, including the rights to justice and access to justice and how this should be provided for an equal footing and free of discrimination.
The Office of the Specialized Prosecutor has also managed funds from international cooperation to draft documentation, which serve as practical guides or handbooks for regional prosecutors offices in this area.
Investigation handbook or manual for violations of the rights of Indigenous peoples in Afric Hondurance is amongst the documentation or handbooks that have been published.
We also have a training handbook for members of the Judiciary Judicial Office, which includes a section on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has made a commitment to combat the scourge of discrimination and will continue to do so.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much indeed to my colleague from the Office of the Attorney General or the Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Next, we will turn our attention to cultural, education, linguistic rights of indigenous and Indigenous peoples and Afro Hondurans.
I will give the floor to the Vice Minister and the Ministry of Security, Mr.
Mo, you have the floor.
Chair, Distinguished Country rapporteurs, to respond to the concerns related to cultural, linguistic, and educational rights of indigenous peoples and Afro Hondurans, I would like to respond by saying that we're currently updating our public policy and national action plan, the related national action plan that is on human rights.
To cover the period 2027 2037, which will be an instrument that prioritizes 16 rights, including security, life, physical integrity, and personal freedom.
It will also cover land and territory rights, water, and the right to a healthy environment.
It will also include prevention action, interinstitutional coordination actions, adaptation and mitigation actions, and actions on resilience to climate change.
All of this aimed at reducing the socio economic impacts of these scourges and guarantee the holistic protection of particularly vulnerable groups of society.
In 2024 or from 2024 to July 2026, we have rolled out cultural programs, including linguistic rehabilitation programs and the provision of technical support in indigenous and Afro Honduran communities.
In that same period 2024 to 2026, we have opened further houses of culture in Lab, Ine and Puerto Emira expanding the presence of these houses of culture in indigenous and Afro Honduran territories.
There are 114 such houses of culture currently in 11 of Honduras's departments in between 2024 and July of 2026.
We put together a national plan to safeguard indigenous languages and Afro Honduran languages, which are put together on a participatory basis.
We drafted and circulated a draft law on the protection of indigenous languages in Honduras.
We conducted three national workshops on indigenous languages.
I as part of the decade of Indigenous languages 22 to 2032, we will continue to roll out educational material and actions in the Peshawaa and Garfuna languages.
We up to agree in July 2026 have provided training for community leaders, civil servants, and teachers in cultural rights in the concept of interculturalism and the prevention of discrimination.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much indeed.
I give the floor next to the magistrate from the Supreme Court of Justice, Isabella Castillo.
Thank you very much.
I will respond to the questions that were asked about sanctions and punishments and penalties.
Including some of the Amparo case that we have been dealt with, one in particular from 2019, in which we invoked provisions of the ISD to respond to a case brought about racial discrimination targeting the Garfuno people.
We also have case 14 271 of 2025, which directly applied Article 1 of ISERD to respond to a case of discrimination in the media targeting the Lenca people.
I would also like to fy The case of 2023 of the year 2025, which analyzed labor and workplace discrimination and did so via the lens of Articles one and 25 of the Inter American Convention.
I think it is also important to underscore that the judiciary applies an assessment based on objective criteria as well as subjective criteria.
In this particular case or the cases that I've referred to and in their rulings on these cases, if of interest to the committee, we can share additional information in writing, including links to pertinent documentation in terms of capacity building and training, to circle back to a point that was made earlier, we have a training program on the Indigenous peoples and Afro Endurance's rights.
This program was rolled out for an interinstitutional pilot project with participation from the Ministry of Human Rights Director General of Human Rights and support from the OHCHR in the delivery of that program.
The program was intended to strengthen understanding of conventional oversight, intercultural sensitivity, non discrimination, and gender and intersectionality as well, Indigenous people's rights is a program that's focused on judges, magistrates, and judicial staff, as well as other groups and it's intended to give them the basis for practical application of these concepts in their work.
It covers various different concepts including conventions and treaties, their practical implementation in the endurance system, and good practices for a fair and unbiased trial that duly factors in interculturality, sensitivity and standards of access to justice absent discrimination.
We're also implementing additional training in five headquarters in Comual Las, Esperanza Gracias, and Atlanta.
We have also developed world out with the support of the OHHR and this is last year, two workshops in the Cologne department, which are places which have historically been marred by a conflict over land issues or land rights.
We've also pursued interinstitutional work via commissions on access to criminal justice to formally recognize and acknowledge the right of indigenous peoples to have their cases heard vials of intercultural sensitivity.
We have also recently rolled out training with the criminal chambers on legal pluralism, cosmo vision, and cultural identity of indigenous peoples.
As you can see, this is just a snapshot of the various activities, the many myriad activities that we've been engaged over the last two years, and we're happy to ensure about them in further detail if necessary.
Thank you very much.
I'll give the floor to the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office, Maria Tejdi, you have the floor.
Thank you very much to respond to the question that was asked about cases in which which have involved private sector defendants Abei Parden.
Major enterprises can be engaged in hate speech and acts of discrimination.
In response thereto, the public prosecutor's office, particularly by its regional prosecutor in Santa Roso de Caban, has informed us about six investigations that they're currently pursuing.
Involving Western mining companies, particularly targeting concerns about potential illegal exploitation of natural resources and environmental harm.
This also includes the potential despoiling of graves, which investigation that is currently ongoing.
There's also an investigation to potential contamination or pollution of the air and the water and the soil.
These are broad ranging investigations and we're currently at the information gathering stage, information has been requested from relevant government institutions such as the State mining agency and the Ministry of Mines.
The charge is exploitation of natural resources with harm to the environment, as I said, two of the six cases are further along in the investigation stage.
But the investigations are still ongoing.
Amongst these cases that are being investigated is included a prior investigation which resulted in an order for expanded oversight, and the Public Prosecutor's Office will shortly be taking a decision on what guides this will take on this particular case, that decision having been reached.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much indeed.
I would like to reiterate that this delegation stands ready, willing, and able to send any additional uncomplimentary information in writing should that be helpful or if you want to prompt us if there's any questions that we haven't yet answered, factoring in the need to respect the time frames provided by the committee.
At this stage, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for this very frank and sustained dialogue in this first day of our interaction.
We are fully committed to this convention and to promoting it and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with the committee tomorrow afternoon, Geneva Time.
Thank you very much.
I Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We still have some time if the task force or members of the committee would like to raise other issues or questions, not necessarily to be answered today, but for tomorrow so that the delegation can prepare the necessary answers.
Mr.
Thank you, chair.
We do have some figures or data that we could share with you at this juncture if that's useful.
And this is data related to 1 second, please.
That's information related to human rights education and the steps taken to combat discrimination.
It covers the period of 2024 to 2026, if you'd be interested in those figures at this stage.
Yes.
Madam Minister, we would be very interested, but if it's about statistics, we can have it in written form as well.
We will duly process that information.
With great pleasure, we can provide it in writing chair.
Thank you.
Now I'm going to give the floor to Mr.
Diaby for further questions.
You don't have to answer today, but maybe for tomorrow.
Diaby was.
Mr.
Diabe, you have the floor.
Thank you.
I join my colleagues in the task force, Mr.
Vicente, Mr.
Wanam.
Chair, I'm taking the floor in my capacity as the focal point for the committee on reprisals.
I would like wearing that hat to recall the zero tolerance policy of the United Nations Ric large of our committee, more specifically, vis-à-vis any issues or cases of threats or intimidation and reprisals targeting any individual or organization particularly those who are representatives of groups protected by convention who collaborate with this committee either before, during, or after this dialogue.
That said, in April 2025, Mr.
Max Gil Caston, the brother of the chair of the ***** Pedre community has not been seen.
He's not been seen since 2025.
Has an investigation been opened into that disappearance.
Organizations are concerned about threats that were received surrounding that case, including Garfuna leaders and Gafuna organization members.
They have been the subject of repeated threats and intimidation.
There's also the case of the murder of Mr.
Juan Lopez in 2024.
Here again, I would ask whether an investigation has been opened to identify who ordered that murder.
We have not received formally any information on these cases of intimidation or in this case of merger.
I would like to make the point that we've received no specific complaints of intimidation surrounding interaction with this committee relation to this dialogue but we will remain alert to that possibility going forward and we act accordingly.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Jabs, as the chair, anyone else would like the floor? I'd like to take.
No, I don't see anybody.
Well, we can wrap up today's meeting.
Tomorrow, Sorry? Would you like what? No, that's for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the committee will address the remaining, the remaining two teams identified by the country task force.
These are segment three situation of indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
Participation in political and public affairs, use of force by law enforcement officials and violence by non state actors, and racial profiling.
Right to freedom of expression, protection of journalists, human rights defenders and leaders and members of indigenous and African descent communities, free prior and informed consent, community ownership of traditional lands, extractive and infrastructure projects, and impacts on the rights of indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
Segment four, situation of indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
Again, part two, special measures and structural and multiple forms of discrimination and inequality.
Extreme poverty, and access to basic services, right to food, water and sanitation, impact of climate change and related issues.
With that piece of information, I wish you a very good evening.
The 3231st meeting is thus closed.
See you tomorrow.