emergency situation in Honduras
CAWN is seriously concerned about the political crisis in Honduras, the accusations and actions against the President, Manuel Zelaya, the civil society organisations -in particular the safety of the women’s rights activists and our partners, and the continued violation of human rights, the rule of law and the democracy of Honduras.
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archive on news coverage on Honduras
'Elections' held in Honduras on November 29th.
Click here to read Progressio's press release.
Violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression continues in Honduras: Closing of ‘Feminists in Resistance’ Radio Programmes
Source (in Spanish): tortilla con sal
Translated into English by: CAWN (Central America Women’s Network)
Date: 16 October 2009
COVERED UNDER THE DE FACTO GOVERNMENT’S DECREE (124-2009), THE RADIO STATION OF EX-HONDURAN PRESIDENT, RICARDO MADURO, CANCELS RADIO CONTRACTS TO FEMINISTS IN RESISTANCE ORGANISATIONS
Today by way of written communication the administration of Radio Cadena Voces, owned by Ricardo Maduro Joest, ex-President of Honduras, informed the feminist organisations Centro de Derechos de Mujeres (CDM) and the Centro de Estudios de la Mujer -Honduras (CEM-H), that their radio programmes “Tiempo de Hablar” and “La Bullaranga” would be closed.
These programs, originally were conceived to develop specialised coverage of the issues with which Honduran women live, were usually transmitted weekly one hour broadcasts, but during since the Coup d’Etat on 28th June, 2009, they felt obligated to open this space in order to discuss and broadcast the most relevant events and testimonials of the serious situation occurring in the country. This was uncomfortable to the owners of Grupo INVOSA (Declared defenders of the Coup Government), who today in an open violation of the Honduran peoples rights to the freedom of expression and information, proceeded to close these programmes.
These rights had already been restricted some weeks back with the closing of two media outlets which had maintained an editorial policy open to the opposition to the Coup d’Etat: Radio Globo and TV Canal 36 ‘Cholusat’, both of which still remain off the air.
INVOSA justifies the closing of “Tiempo de Hablar” and “La bullaranga" by referring to the executive decree 124-2009, emitted by the Coup government which authorises the suspension of any radio station, television channel or cable system that gives space to criticisms of the de facto government of Roberto Michelletti.
Both organisations, Centro de Derechos de Mujeres (CDM) and Centro de Estudios de La Mujer – Honduras (CEM-H), have formed part of the Front of Resistance against the Coup d’Etat and the Feminists in Resistance movements. Through their radio programmes, they have denounced the many human rights violations, in particular those against women, which have been occurring through the country since the day that the constitutional order was broken.
We are asking both national and international organisations which promote and protect human rights, and especially the Liberty of Expression and the Right to Information, to stay vigilant of what is occurring in our country.
Sandra Marybel Sánchez
Independent Journalist
Interview with the Morning Star (2 October 2009): "Eyewitness in Honduras. Katherine Ronderos talks to John Green on her return from Central Amerca"
Seven weeks after the coup d’état that catapulted Honduras back into the bad old days of the 1980s, the country remains heavily militarised, a punitive curfew is stifling ordinary social interaction and hindering many people’s livelihoods, and violations of individual and collective human rights are reported from all over the country. More than 2,000 people have been arbitrarily detained for supposed violations of the curfew or for participating in marches.[1] Many others have been injured in clashes with the army and police, and there have been four deaths. It is a characteristic of this crisis that repression is particularly fierce against peasant leaders, environmentalists, indigenous and Black people, women’s organisations working for gender rights, trade unionists, and the LGBT population – people with an active interest in political, social and economic change in Honduras.[2]
It is clear now that the crisis won’t be over soon. President Zelaya’s brief and symbolic return to Honduran soil on 23 July was notable chiefly for the coup regime’s savage response. Continuous curfew in the whole border area for several days, with the army hemming in the protesters – including Zelaya’s wife and three other women from his family – without access to food or water other than that given them by local people, sent a clear and brutal message. According to the women’s grouping Feminists in Resistance, the border crossing became ‘a veritable open-air concentration camp’.
But the people of Honduras are continuing to protest against the illegitimate regime despite mounting repression and violation of their human, labour and gender rights. On 11 August the peasants’ movement Via Campesina organized a day of solidarity with the Honduran people. Thousands of marchers arrived in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, Honduras’ second city, concluding a seven-day peaceful protest march across the whole country. But they paid a high price: lawyers advising the National Front of Resistance to the Coup d’État, the group of NGOs, trade unions and popular organizations formed to oppose the coup, reported that hundreds of people were injured and more than 40 detained as a result of violent incidents that evening. Later that night the Tegucigalpa offices of Via Campesina were fired upon.
Women’s organizations are continuing at the forefront of the protests, with marches, meetings, email and internet bulletins. They are also in the golpistas’ sights. CAWN has already reported on the takeover of the National Institute for Women (INAM), the unfair dismissal of several its staff, and the likely setbacks to women’s sexual reproductive rights. At a demonstration outside the INAM offices on 15 July, five women were assaulted and INAM’s technical director, Kenia Irías, received threats to the safety of her family. Women protesters have also been subjected to sexual aggression and sexist insults by members of the security forces.[3]
Yet the courage and energy of Honduras’s women are undimmed. From 17 to 21 August, feminist and human rights organizations, including Feminists in Resistance, are holding a Week for Women’s Human Rights in Honduras, with international guests from Central America, Mexico and the United States. This event aims to make the struggle of Honduran women more visible internationally. Among its activities will be the seventh in a series of Observatorios de la Trangresión Feminista (translated as ‘Women’s Transformation Watch’, which will gather, document, and subsequently publish testimonies and evidence concerning violations of women’s human rights since the coup.
Feminist organizations in Honduras are clear, however, that the coup has only intensified the existing, systemic violations of women’s rights in their country. That’s why one of their key campaign slogans is:
Ni golpes de estado ni golpes a las mujeres!!
(No coups d’état, no beating up women!!)
[1]. Resumen ejecutivo del Informe Final, Misión internacional de observación sobre la situación de los derechos humanos en Honduras, 7 August 2009. Download Executive Summary.
[2]. Ibid.
[3]. Misión internacional de observación sobre la situación de los derechos humanos en Honduras, Gobierno de facto viola derechos humanos en honduras: Informe final, 7 August 2009, p20. Download Report.
international news and responses for Honduran women
International Delegation is Spotlighting Honduran Women's Voices
Source: JASS (17 August 2009)
The international delegation is convening a local and virtual Observatorio (Feminist Transformation Watch) from August 17 to 21 in Honduras to shed light on women's rights violations that are occurring under the de facto regime.
The Honduras coup is a sign: the radical tide can be turned
Source: the Guardian (12 August 2009)
If this were Burma or Iran the assault on democracy would be a global cause celebre. Instead, Obama is sitting on his hands.
Apparel brands speak out on Honduran coup
Source: Maquila Solidarity Network (28 July 2009)
Apparel brands with production in Honduras, including Adidas Group, Nike Inc. and GAP Inc., released a joint letter sent to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "calling for the restoration of democracy in Honduras" following the June 28th military coup.
Honduran Women at Forefront of Resistance to Coup
Source: New America Media (22 July 2009)
Apparel brands with production in Honduras, including Adidas Group, Nike Inc. and GAP Inc., released a joint letter sent to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "calling for the restoration of democracy in Honduras" following the June 28th military coup.
Urgent Regional Call for Action Demands the Return to Democracy in Honduras: “We Are All Honduras, We Are in Resistance!”
Source: Latin American and Caribbean Women's Health Network (22 July 2009)
LACWHN shares a special solidarity with all Honduran women, with women social leaders, with rural women and women students, workers and professionals, who at great risk to their personal safety and physical integrity continue to steadfastly oppose the destitution of the legitimately elected government.
international community
OAS Resolution on the political crisis in Honduras
Source: OAS News (1 July 2009)
The Organisation of American States (OAS) has adopted a resolution strongly condemning the coup d’etat in Honduras and has set a deadline of 72 hours for the immediate and unconditional return of President Manuel Zelaya and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.
UN Resolution condemning coup d'État in Honduras
Source: UN News Centre (30 June 2009)
The General Assembly of the United Nations approved a Resolution condemning the coup d'État in Honduras and giving its support to the legitimate Government of the President Zelaya. It makes a call to the nations of the world “to recognize no Government other than that of the Constitutional President Manuel Zelaya” and demands the restoration of President Zelaya in his Office in joint with the constitutional order in Honduras. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep concern over the takeover in Honduras and voiced his strong support for the Central American nation’s democratic institutions.
EU Declaration on the political situation in Honduras
Source: UN News Centre (24 July 2009)
Until a peaceful negotiated solution has been found, the Council of the European Union will continue to restrict contacts at political level with representatives of the de facto government and suspend Member States' bilateral development co-operation with government institutions, other than humanitarian assistance and emergency relief. The EU will also consider further targeted measures.
CAWN actions against the coup in Honduras
Public Meeting: Restore Democracy in Honduras -Committee Against the Coups (14 October 2009)
Forum for Honduras: Conference and Artistic Vigil in Solidarity – Encuentros latinoamericanos(18 October 2009)
Interview 'Eyewitness in Honduras' with Morning Star (2 October 2009)
Article: updates -the situation of human rights of women (15 July, 21 July, 18 August 2009)
Press Release: Women in the Honduran Crisis (10 July 2009)
Interview BBC Radio 4: Women’s Hour (20 July)
Panel Discussion: the 'Crisis in Honduras' at Canning House (24 July)
BOND Latin American and Caribbean Group sent two letters to the UK government requesting to express publicly its condemnation against the coup (24 July)
Joint letter: to the UK government expressing our condemnation of the military coup and the events that followed (3 July)
