Honduras: New faces, old challenges

Global Witness reports a continuing pattern of violence, surveillance, and harassment against land and environmental defenders in Honduras, despite the 2022 transition to the presidency of Xiomara Castro. The document highlights the specific targeting of ACI Participa and its director Hedme Castro, noting that while some political signs of progress exist, systemic issues like corruption and a failing protection mechanism persist.

• The organization ACI Participa and its executive director, Hedme Castro, have faced severe persecution, including the destruction of Castro's home in November 2021, death threats, surveillance, and an attempted raid on their Tegucigalpa office by the Police Investigation Directorate (DPI) on 14 July 2022.
• Honduras has a systemic history of violence against environmental defenders, with Global Witness documenting 17 lethal attacks in 2020 and violations against communities protecting the Gualcarque and Guapinol Rivers.
• Despite President Xiomara Castro's January 2022 commitment to protect human rights defenders, the situation remains challenging six months into her mandate, with a lack of adequate response to aggressions and a 'Protection Mechanism for defenders, journalists and people working in the judicial system' that is in a deep crisis due to financial, operational, and political failures.
• The document identifies drug trafficking, corruption, a migration crisis, and a budget crisis as factors that exacerbate the risks faced by defenders, and suggests that the ratification of the Escazú Agreement by the Honduran Congress could improve transparency and recognition of defenders.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Honduras: New faces, old challenges. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/honduras-new-faces-old-challenges/

Chicago

Global Witness. Honduras: New faces, old challenges. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/honduras-new-faces-old-challenges/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Witness |title=Honduras: New faces, old challenges |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/honduras-new-faces-old-challenges/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalwitnessndhonduras, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Honduras: New faces, old challenges}}, publisher = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/honduras-new-faces-old-challenges/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }