Honduras

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Report to the Midyear Meeting 2023
April, 25-27
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The country continues an evident decline in the press freedom index registered by the Chapultepec Index, with a drop of two steps compared to the previous measurement period.

Honduras is located in 13th place in the ranking; the report accuses the violence against journalists as "victims of attacks by employees and activists of the official party" during the current government.

Many journalists have been stigmatized, some attacked by the so-called "Commandos," groups sympathetic to the party in power who attack those who disagree with the current administration's decisions. One of the journalists struck was Alex Cáceres, who denounced that someone from that parapolice group beat him.

The environment of insecurity and danger in the exercise of the profession has not changed. Various murders of journalists in the last 20 years continue with impunity.

Social communicator José Amílcar Chávez, a correspondent for the Hoy Mismo newscasts, owner of a Christian radio station and several motorcycle workshops in Olanchito, Yoro, was found dead in his house.

In addition, this year, Caleb Alvarado, UNETV correspondent in San Pedro Sula, suffered an attack.

The Secretary of State for Human Rights has been unable to reactivate the Protection System for Journalists, Human Rights Defenders, Social Communicators, and Justice Operators.

This system was created as a commitment of the State in response to the demands of the United Nations Organization (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS) due to the vulnerability of journalists, human rights defenders, and justice operators. Currently, the system houses 14 justice operators, 12 journalists, 119 human rights defenders, and 13 social communicators.

During the government of President Xiomara Castro, the Law for the Classification of Public Documents Related to National Security and Defense, known as the Secrets Law, was repealed, a positive aspect for transparency and freedom of the press. The legislation passed in 2014 prevented citizens from finding out about government purchases made without public bidding.

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