National Advocacy Center
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Staff & Advisory Board
    • Partners
    • Good Shepherd Sisters
    • Of Note News >
      • Of Note Archives 2022
      • Of Note Archives 2021
      • Of Note Archives 2020
      • Of Note Archives 2019
      • Of Note Archives 2018
      • Of Note Archives 2017
      • Of Note Archives 2016
      • Of Note Archives 2015
    • Contact
  • Act for Justice
    • Road to Justice
    • Human Trafficking Conference >
      • HT Packet & Digital Toolkit
    • Giving
    • Outreach
  • Issues
    • Central America
    • Economic Justice
    • End Racism
    • Human Trafficking >
      • Know the Signs
      • Trafficking Resources
    • Immigration & Refugees
    • Muslim Relations
    • Women & Children
  • Resources
    • Advocacy Tools
    • Analysis for Action
    • Poetry Library

Day 11 / Human Rights Abuses in Honduras

3/22/2019

0 Comments

 
PicturePhoto by Mark Coplan
Today was another full day. We began by meeting with Maria Soledad Pazo, Representative of Country, United Nations, Human Rights.  

Representing the  only office specifically charged with protecting human rights, she was saddened by the widespread poverty, violence, and corruption in Honduras. With almost 70 percent of the people living in poverty, it is clear that poverty itself is a human rights issue.

She also decried the lack of investigation of human rights abuse and the overly zealous investigation and detention of human rights defenders. For example, four people arrested in Honduras a year ago for a minor offense protesting the fraudulent presidential election are still in jail awaiting a trial.

Pazo identified part of the problem as the weakness of governmental institutions. I was reminded of the mayor who claimed he opposed the creation of the refinery that would pollute the river, but could find no way to protect the river.

Our next meeting was with Heidi Fulton, Charge d'Affairs, United States Embassy.  She said very little but listened to the report of our team's findings and the impassioned testimony of two residents.

Our report centered on the lack of investigations of human rights abuse; the inhibition of free speech, the absence of due process, and public smearing with implied threats.

For example, there has been practically no investigation of the murder of 22 people who were killed after protesting the last election. Meanwhile some 7000 people have legal proceedings against them for engaging in peaceful protests.

The team also deplored the militarization of the Bajo Aguan region where the primary role of the military is defending the interests of the mining companies. 

After our meeting with Fulton, we had a news conference where the team reiterated its findings and recommendations. 

I was very proud of my fellow team members. They were able to identify the major issues and suggested possible ways of addressing those issues.

Picture
Photo by Mark Coplan
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Lawrence E. Couch serves as the director and lobbyist for the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.


    RSS Feed

    Want more? Sign up for updates, resources, action alerts. Rise Up & Act for Justice.
    Sign Up

    Archives

    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    August 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    Archdiocese Of Washington
    Border
    Catholic Charities
    Catholic Social Teaching
    Congress
    COVID
    COVID-19
    Detention Center
    Family Separation
    First Flight
    Fraudulent Elections
    Fr. Melo
    George Floyd
    Hhs
    Honduras
    Human Rights
    Human Trafficking
    Juan Orlando Hernandez
    Larry Couch
    Martin Luther King
    National Advocacy Center
    Pandemic
    Poem
    Poetry
    Race
    Racism
    Rooster
    Sex Trafficking
    Sisters Of The Good Shepherd
    Social Justice
    Tornillo

NAC Quick Links

Ways to Act

Reach out to your elected officials and others on important policy decisions impacting the common good.
Act for Justice

Stay Informed

​Our email network alerts you to legislative news and directly connects you with lawmakers.
Sign Up

Advocacy Tools

Learn how to personally advocate for change and access other advocacy resources.
Access Tools

Our Issues

We advocate for laws that benefit the marginalized, especially families, women and children.  
Learn More

Contact

National Advocacy Center
of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

504 Hexton Hill Road
​Silver Spring, MD  20904

Phone 301.622.6838 | Fax 301.384.1025
E-mail us
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Website design adapted and modified by Perisphere Media.