UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD HONDURAS Population size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)3 9.42 million 112,000 km² 0.617 (rank: 132/188 in 2016) Status B, 2016 Type of engagement Country Office Year established 2015 Field office(s) Tegucigalpa UN partnership framework United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2017-2021 Staff as of 31 December 2018 9 Total income US$2,500,154 XB requirements 2018 US$ 2,568,800 Total XB expenditure US$2,429,735 Personnel Non-personnel 67% 22% PSC† 11% $1,616,116 $533,022 $280,597 Key OMP pillars in 2018 123 † Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.191. KEY PILLAR RESULTS: Mechanisms (M) M1 – An effective national monitoring and reporting mechanism is established. The Office supported preparations for the establishment of a national mechanism for integrated reporting and the implementation of recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms by providing expert legal advice and building the capacity of key stakeholders to ensure an effective transition. The National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF) has not yet been formally established. As of December, the Council of Ministers had not yet adopted the decree to which OHCHR had provided expert legal advice in 2017 and 2018. 240 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 The Ministry of Human Rights, however, reaffirmed the interest and readiness of the Government to establish the NMRF. Meanwhile, OHCHR developed and started to implement a training programme for the government officials who will be nominated as agency focal points in the NMRF. The six-month training programme for 40 focal points from 50 State agencies was prepared in accordance with a needs assessment that was conducted with the participation of 27 State agencies. It covers a wide range of human rights and public policy subjects, including engagement with the international human rights mechanisms. As of the end of December, two modules of the programme had been delivered. M2 – The national human rights institution, civil society organizations, and UN agencies send information to UN human rights mechanisms and use their recommendations, guidance and jurisprudence in advocacy. By building the capacity of relevant partners, including civil society organizations, individuals and UN entities, the Office sought to contribute to their increased engagement with and submission of substantive inputs to the treaty bodies, special procedures and UPR. OHCHR provided capacity-building support to the Ministry of Human Rights, which chairs the State coordinating mechanism on the reporting obligations of Honduras. The Office provided technical assistance on the classification of recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms and the development of software, known as SIMOREH, to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. During the reporting period, OHCHR facilitated the academic mission of an expert from CED as well as an official visit of the UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice, in November. This ensured their engagement with a variety of actors throughout the country, including relevant civil society organizations. The UN Country Team agreed on and presented the United Nations Development Assistance Framework Workplan 20192021 to the Government. As a result of the political dialogue that followed, the Government committed to situating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the centre of its development programme, including by aligning the Country Vision 2010-2038, the National Plan 2010-2022 and the Government’s Strategic Plan 2014-2018 with the Sustainable Development Goals. Accountability (A) A1 – Legislation, policies and practices on security achieve a greater level of compliance with human rights standards, such as in the areas of the participation of military forces in citizen security tasks. The Office contributed to increasing the level of compliance of electoral and migration legislation/policy with international human rights norms and standards by providing expert legal advice and targeted recommendations. In 2018, OHCHR focused on the documentation of violations and presented its findings in public reports that advocated for change. A report on electoral violence, first presented in March 2017, was a key element of OHCHR’s findings on the Government’s security practices and consequential human rights violations. In the context of the UN-supported National Political Dialogue that took place between August and December, during which OHCHR acted as a thematic adviser on human rights, the Human Rights Working Group agreed on a set of useful recommendations that were fully aligned with the recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms. In response to the expansion of the migration phenomenon and the need for a comprehensive assessment of the region, OHCHR worked on strengthening access to justice for migrant populations. It assisted the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to develop a protocol for effectively responding to cases of missing or disappeared migrants. An OHCHR monitoring mission was complemented by a two-day workshop with 23 national authorities. The workshop addressed current challenges and identified the measures that should be adopted to improve the protection of migrants in transit and at international borders. OHCHR will follow up on the outcomes of this workshop through regional conferences. A2 – The Supreme Court and the Office of the Attorney General strengthen their technical and institutional capacity to prosecute human rights violations promptly, impartially and effectively. As part of its strategic working plan, the Supreme Court adopts and implements strategies that improve the access to justice of marginalized groups, including migrants, women victims of violence, indigenous peoples, members of the LGTBI community, and persons living with disabilities. By promoting awareness of human rights standards and providing expert legal advice, the Office contributed to the improved functioning of the oversight, accountability and protection mechanisms that conform to international human rights standards. In collaboration with the Organization of American States and its Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, OHCHR strongly advocated for public oversight in relation to the re-election of the Attorney General, including by promoting awareness about human rights standards, undertaking legal analysis, monitoring the process, organizing public fora and issuing publications. The re-election of the acting Attorney General, in apparent disregard of the legal procedure, clearly demonstrated the need for a comprehensive reform of the framework for electing justice personnel. In terms of the investigation of human rights violations, limited political will was demonstrated to strengthen the institutional framework of the Supreme Court or to adopt protocols to improve Shifts: investigations. In late 2018, dialogue was resumed on the Latin American Model Protocol for the investigation of gender-related killings of women (femicide/ feminicide). This result came about after OHCHR facilitated joint advocacy with the UN Country Team, shared comparative experiences in public fora and organized technical workshops. In addition, following a dialogue with authorities, OHCHR developed a monitoring strategy on the issue of gender-related killings of women. As the development of a protocol on human rights defenders has been called for in recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms, OHCHR sought guidance on the topic from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, particularly in relation to the implementation of a judgement handed down by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Participation (P) P6 – Rights-holders, especially women, indigenous peoples and other underrepresented groups, participate in selected public processes at the local and national level. OHCHR contributed to the meaningful participation of rights-holders, especially women and discriminated groups, in various public processes by accompanying rights-holders in social mobilization processes at the national and local level. OHCHR followed a number of social mobilizations and protests, such as the students’ movement, the migrant caravan and the first anniversary of the contested 2017 general and presidential election. The levels of violence and repression in the demonstrations varied according to the movement and region of the country. According to CSOs and public authorities, the presence of OHCHR created a more Corruption UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 241