Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Commend Honduras’ Political Will to Address Human Rights Challenges, Ask about Threats to Small-Scale Fishers and Low School Enrolment Rates

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the third periodic report of Honduras, with Committee Experts commending the State party for its political will to address human rights challenges, and asking about threats to small-scale fishers and low school enrolment rates.

Ludovic Hennebel, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, said the dialogue was taking place in the context of significant challenges in Honduras, including the state of emergency, challenges to social justice, and impunity for human rights violations.  There was political will from the Government, which had a stalwart commitment to bolstering human rights, to overcome these difficult challenges.

One Committee Expert said there were threats to small-scale fishers in Honduras, including climate change and the activities of large-scale fishers.  Had the State party made progress on implementing the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ rulings concerning Miskito persons’ rights?  How was the State party protecting the livelihoods and safety of these fishers?

Another Committee Expert expressed concern that primary education was not universal in Honduras and that pre-primary education was very underdeveloped, with only about 35 per cent of eligible children enrolled.  How would the State address imbalances in the quality of education between urban and rural areas and promote access to education?

Angélica Lizeth Álvarez, Secretary of State for Law in the Office of Human Rights of Honduras and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said Honduras had become the sixth fastest growing economy in Latin America thanks in part to significant investments in social infrastructure.  Honduras had the highest growth in public investment in Latin America in 2023.

The delegation said comprehensive inspections were carried out into the diving fisheries sector.  In 2023, the Government had incorporated the findings of an Inter-American Court of Human Rights case related to underwater fishing, paying the requested damages to the diver involved.  The Government was providing fishers with access to credit lines and monetary transfers.

The delegation said the school meals programme was encouraging vulnerable populations to enrol in school.  The Government had allocated significant funding to its education rehabilitation plan.  It was building 130 early childhood education centres in the poorest areas of the country and creating virtual classrooms in poor rural areas.  This year, the Government had provided 12,000 scholarships and 800 laptops for persons in vulnerable situations, including indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Hennebel said the dialogue had demonstrated the challenges being faced by Honduras and the progress it had made.  There was still a long way to go for economic, social and cultural rights to be fully realised across Honduras.  Mr. Hennebel called on the State party to implement the Committee’s concluding observations and to continue to cooperate with the Committee as it worked to ensure better protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

Ms. Lizeth Álvarez, in closing remarks, thanked the Committee for the dialogue, and called on it to support the State as it worked to implement key reforms related to economic, social and cultural rights.  The State party wished to ensure that its policies were in line with international human rights standards.  Honduras remained committed to the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights.

The delegation of Honduras was comprised of representatives from the Office of the Attorney General; Office of Health; Office of Education; Office of Human Rights; National Solidarity Network Programme; Office of Social Development; Office of Labour and Social Security; and the Permanent Mission of Honduras to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public this afternoon, Thursday, 12 September, at 3 p.m. to begin its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan (E/C.12/KGZ/4).

Report

The Committee has before it the third periodic report of Honduras (E/C.12/HND/3).

Presentation of Report

ANGÉLICA LIZETH ÁLVAREZ, Secretary of State for Law, Office of Human Rights of Honduras, and head of the delegation, said Honduras was committed to the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, in full conformity with the Covenant.  The 2009 coup d'état, described as an unlawful act by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, had triggered a human rights crisis that directly and indirectly affected the economic, social and cultural rights of the population, especially those populations in vulnerable situations.  After this event, there was prolonged institutional deterioration, characterised by policies that deepened inequality and dismantled essential public services.  Corruption and impunity had aggravated these conditions.  The effects of this crisis were evidenced in the increase in extreme poverty, the lack of access to quality health and education services, job insecurity, and the forced migration of thousands of citizens.

The current Government was charting a new era of democratic restoration, where economic, social and cultural rights were fundamental pillars of the agenda.  Honduras had become the sixth fastest growing economy in Latin America thanks in part to significant investments in social infrastructure, which, in addition to promoting the country's development, generated more than 37,000 direct jobs and 43,000 indirect jobs in 2023 alone.  Likewise, in 2023, Honduras climbed 29 positions in the World Economic Forum's gender gap report, as a result of economic policies with a gender approach.  Honduras also had the highest growth in public investment in Latin America in 2023.

In the reporting period, the Government had launched a national health plan that included the largest financial investment and recruitment of health personnel in decades, which was strengthening hospital infrastructure and improving the coverage and quality of services, especially in rural areas. 

To guarantee the right to education, the President had prioritised implementing the successful school feeding programmes in 18 departments and investing in the recovery of school infrastructure.  Thanks to the national literacy programme, 140 municipalities out of 298 had been declared free of illiteracy.  The National Programme of Solidarity Scholarships and Free Tuition was promoting access to the educational system for children and teenagers.

On tax matters, the President had presented the tax justice bill, which aimed to correct tax loopholes that were legalised through 40 decrees approved during the three previous government periods.  These loopholes cost the Honduran people more than 500 million lempiras between July 2009 and December 2023.  This law sought to create two new systems for international standards, and change Honduras from a tax haven for illegal capital to a global taxation system.  The Government had returned to the principle of a single treasury, thus guaranteeing a more transparent and efficient system.

With regard to guaranteeing the rights of indigenous and Afro-Honduran populations, a body had been created within the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to guarantee compliance with the sentences in favour of the communities of San Juan, Triunfo de la Cruz, and Punta Piedra.  The Government had set up a tripartite commission to investigate human rights violations in the Bajo Aguán area, and an inter-institutional body to protect the rights of the Lenca indigenous people.  In defence of Honduras’ territorial sovereignty, the Government had repealed Employment and Economic Development Zones, which represented the sale of the State’s territory to transnational capital.

The road to the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights in Honduras was challenging, but the State’s commitment was clear.  It was determined to build a society where all Hondurans, without exception, could realise their human rights.

Questions by Committee Experts

LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, said the dialogue was taking place in the context of significant challenges in Honduras, including the state of emergency, challenges to social justice, and impunity for human rights violations.  There was political will from the Government, which had a stalwart commitment to bolstering human rights, to overcome these difficult challenges.  The state of emergency had had an impact on economic, social and cultural rights.  How did the State party ensure that human rights were not compromised in this situation?  What sentences had been handed down related to attacks on human rights defenders?

What measures were in place to ensure the effective participation of Government authorities in implementing the Committee’s concluding observations?  How was the State party promoting the Covenant and the Optional Protocol’s appeals procedure?

What steps had been taken to regulate access to land and protect indigenous lands?  Had the State party combatted inequalities in land rights?  What complaints mechanisms were available to indigenous peoples regarding land rights and what outcomes had been achieved by the Government bodies established to delineate land?  What measures were in place to protect indigenous peoples from displacement?  How had the State party promoted free, prior and informed consent, and developed laws on the illegal occupation of indigenous territories?

Honduran tax policy was regressive, with a weak level of tax collection in relation to gross domestic product.  How would the Government create a more equitable tax policy and redistribute wealth?  How was it addressing debts and ensuring that austerity measures did not harm the poorest sectors of the population?  What measures were in place to reduce the proportion of the population living in poverty and address inequality?  There was a pandemic of corruption in Honduras.  What steps had been taken to combat the phenomenon?  Had any rulings on corruption cases been made?

What measures were in place to ensure equality and non-discrimination on the basis of language, religion and gender?  Could the delegation provide data on complaints of discrimination registered with the State, including discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex and indigenous persons?  How was the State party ensuring access to credit and employment for women, combatting gender stereotypes, and promoting equal participation in child raising between men and women?  How was it combatting rape and domestic violence?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Government had put in place an intersectoral commission to comply with the rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that benefitted the Garifuna community and other indigenous communities.  The commission was putting in place legal instruments related to the rulings, setting up rules requiring free, prior and informed consent for development projects, and identifying and revising legislation that violated the rights of indigenous peoples.  The Government was working on a protocol on due diligence for crimes against environmental human rights defenders, and was also planning to revise its Constitution to recognise the rights of all indigenous peoples in the State.  Further, it had put in place a protocol for consultation with indigenous communities on all issues affecting their lives.

The Government had set up a “Solidarity Network” programme, which targeted women heads of households living in extreme poverty.  These women received cash transfers and had access to low interest credit.  Various agricultural programmes had been set up to ensure food security for vulnerable families.  Rural and urban development programmes trained small businesses to succeed.  The Government was also funding a bank for agricultural development so that it could provide credit to small-scale producers, who could also access Government subsidies.

The State party had recently approved rules of procedure for responding to attacks on journalists and human rights defenders.  There had been protection measures implemented in 138 cases related to human rights defenders since 2021.  In 2024, the Government had strengthened the national protection system for human rights defenders, doubling the number of staff in the system and strengthening their training.

In 2022, Honduras had developed a law on providing care for persons displaced due to violence.  Around 3.8 per cent of the urban population and two per cent of the rural population had been displaced, affected by climate events and insecurity.

The Secretary of State within the Human Rights Office transmitted recommendations made to Honduras by international bodies to Government agencies.  The State party was working to strengthen its recommendation oversight system.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on whether the legislation on free, prior and informed consent had been adopted; and whether the State party had a plan on business and human rights that was in line with international standards.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there was no law on free, prior and informed consent.  Such a law had been submitted to the National Congress in 2020, but this was denounced by indigenous peoples who said it did not promote sufficient consultation with them.  The Government was working to ensure that dialogues with indigenous communities were conducted on all matters affecting them.  It was also developing a process for authorities to obtain free, prior and informed consent.

The sectoral board on the private sector was developing an action plan on business and human rights.  The board was considering structural transformations related to the tax, justice and energy law, and sentences handed down against Honduras related to abuse of Miskito peoples’ rights.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the Committee was concerned about high rates of unemployment and underemployment among women, young people and indigenous peoples.  What measures were in place to address this issue?  Were there measures to promote women’s participation in the formal labour market and reduce their representation in informal and unremunerated sectors?  Was the State party interested in ratifying the International Labour Organization conventions on domestic workers and workplace harassment?

What measures were in place to bring laws on child labour in line with international standards to ensure that no child under age 14 could work?  How was the State party ensuring that all employers provided workers with at least the minimum wage?  Had the State party carried out a national survey on household income, and worked to abolish the practice of bipartite establishment of wage rates?

Had the State party made progress on implementing the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ rulings concerning Miskito persons’ rights?  What inspections were carried out into working conditions for underwater fishers?  How would the State party strengthen the commission that was set up to regulate this sector?  There were threats to the living conditions of small-scale fishers, including climate change and the activities of large-scale fishers.  How was the State party protecting the livelihoods and safety of these fishers?  How was it ensuring that workers in the agricultural sector could fully enjoy their rights?  Was there a labour inspection body working in the agricultural sector and a complaints mechanism available to agricultural workers?  What vocational health care support did workers receive?

A framework law on social security had been repealed in 2022, after having been declared unconstitutional.  How was the State party ensuring universal access to social care services?  What percentage of the population was benefiting from social services?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the State party had been implementing a framework convention on women’s rights.  Various initiatives promoting capacity building for women had been carried out.  The Government was working to reduce the gender gap through policies on equal employment.  Measures had been implemented to protect workers in precarious sectors, such as the maquila sector.  Labour inspections focused on vulnerable workers in these sectors.

The Government had drafted a bill that included measures for strengthening social protection, including revisions to social security payments, in cooperation with international bodies.  The President would soon present this bill to the National Congress.

Comprehensive inspections were carried out into the diving fisheries sector.  In 2023, the Government had incorporated the findings of an Inter-American Court of Human Rights case related to underwater fishing, paying the requested damages to the diver involved.  A national board on Miskito divers’ rights had been set up, and lawyers fluent in Miskito were providing oversight of the industry and informing Miskito divers of their rights.

There had been an increase in wages for 71,000 public workers.  The Government planned to establish a minimum wage that was higher than the basic food basket.  It promoted collective bargaining and freedom of association.  Workers’ rights to join trade unions were protected.  There could be no interference in trade union activities and trade union leaders were protected.  When there were reports of violations of the rights of workers, the Government conducted investigations.  Two sentences had been handed down related to such violations in recent years.

The Government had taken actions to eradicate forced child labour in cooperation with civil society.  Training had been provided for employers on compliance with labour laws.  Around 270 training courses had been held this year, including courses specifically focusing on eradicating child labour.  There were 184 inspections carried out this year to identify child labour.  The President had approved a policy on the protection of children and families this month.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures to repeal the bipartite process applied to the wages of maquila workers; protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex workers, penalties issued for discrimination of this group, and measures promoting their access to employment; progress in adopting a law regulating domestic work; whether the State party was working to address discrimination in the maquila sector in its business and human rights policy; and measures to address the issues facing small-scale fishers.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there was a national programme supporting small-scale fishers and a programme aiming to restore levels of native fish to improve the situation of artisanal fishers.  There was also a programme providing technical and financial support to small-scale agricultural producers.  The Government was providing fishers with access to credit lines and monetary transfers, and providing fishing families with children with school supplies.  The National Commission for the Protection of Miskito Persons was providing periodic medical assessments for divers and supporting them to transition from the informal to the formal sector.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert expressed concern that primary education was not universal in Honduras.  Only 85 per cent of children between ages six and 11 were enrolled in primary education.  Pre-primary education was very underdeveloped, with only about 35 per cent of eligible children enrolled.  What State budget had been allocated to education, and what plans were there to increase the education budget?  Could the delegation provide data on the children outside of the school system?  Was all expenditure associated with education covered by the State?  What training was provided to staff in bilingual education centres?  Were efforts being made to address gender stereotypes in textbooks?  How would the State address imbalances in the quality of education between urban and rural areas, and promote access to education for persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples?

What outcomes had been achieved by the State party’s digital literacy campaigns?  What percentage of the population had access to the internet?  How was the State party ensuring that all schools had access to the internet?  Honduras had one of the lowest rates of investment in science in the region.  Was it working to increase this and promote women’s access to education in science?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said school enrolment rates had reached a low point during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, but they had since improved.  The school meals programme was encouraging vulnerable populations to enrol in school.  The Government had allocated significant funding to its education rehabilitation plan, which included measures to improve broadband connectivity in schools.  More than 3,000 schools had been rebuilt with support from international partners.  The State party was building 130 early childhood education centres in the poorest areas of the country.

Bilingual education programmes had helped to improve enrolment rates in indigenous communities.  More than 50,000 school kits had been provided to indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans, and the Government was creating virtual classrooms in poor rural areas.  It had supported more than 100 rural schools to connect to the internet.  Literacy campaigns were also being conducted for persons living in extreme poverty.  This year, the Government had provided 12,000 scholarships and 800 laptops for persons in vulnerable situations, including indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans.  Twenty-two libraries had also been built in vulnerable communities.

The Government had significantly increased the budget from education by two billion lempiras in 2023 and by seven billion in 2024.  These increases had allowed the Government to increase teachers’ salaries and direct financing for schools.  A scholarship programme had been implemented for primary, secondary and tertiary education.

The Government had been updating the law promoting science, technology and innovation to address gaps in financing for the science sector.  It was also promoting women’s participation in science and technology.  More than 60 per cent of pupils in higher education were female.  The Government had also set up a project providing seed funding for entrepreneurship in the field of science.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the percentage of public expenditure devoted to education and forecasts for future spending; the number of children who were victims of school bullying, and awareness raising campaigns in place to combat school bullying; tools to research and regulate the informal sector, where more than 40 per cent of women worked in precarious circumstances; whether the State party would promote access to the formal labour sector for asylum seekers and refugees; examples of court decisions that had applied the Covenant; complaints mechanisms in place regarding economic, social and cultural rights; and the aims of the bill of law on climate change.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Government was developing a tax justice law to eliminate tax loopholes, which had allowed for tax evasion by the owners of large companies and caused the State to lose several billion lempiras.  There was now only a single treasury office; offices placed under private banking for tax management had been eliminated.  The law aimed to create a more equitable and global tax system.  Honduras was committed to tackling public debt and eliminating disparities.

An inclusion and equality unit had been established, which was creating policies promoting the inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.  The State had recognised its responsibility in the killing of Vicky Hernandez.

Honduras had developed a new bill on climate change that would promote effective governance and monitoring of climate change policies.  Awareness raising workshops would be carried out on the bill with various stakeholders.  The bill was moving towards adoption.

The Government had established social programmes to protect the rights of vulnerable persons, small producers and persons living in extreme poverty, and a national housing support programme to improve the housing of these people.  There had been a nine per cent drop in poverty rates this year.  More than 250,000 families had benefitted from money transfer schemes.

In 2022, the State party began reforming the law on equality for persons with disabilities.  Reforms sought to promote access to education and employment for persons with disabilities.  The State party had set a quota of four per cent representation of persons with disabilities in workforces and established an office supporting access to the labour market for persons with disabilities.

Honduras was drawing up a comprehensive policy to tackle racism and discrimination.  Capacity building programmes had been carried out to train the police on the rights of vulnerable groups and prevent revictimisation.  Protocols had been established for the protection of victims of gender-based violence.  In 2022, a high-level committee for follow-up to violence against women had been set up.  A lawsuit had been filed against a public figure who had made discriminatory statements against indigenous peoples and people of African descent in 2023. 

Questions by Committee Experts

LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair, said trafficking of persons under 18 for the purposes of sexual exploitation continued to be a problem, but there was a low number of convictions for this crime.  The framework for monitoring trafficking remained inadequate.  What remedies were available to victims of trafficking and what measures were in place to combat trafficking?

Poverty in rural areas had decreased in recent years but remained high compared to urban areas.  Honduras had one of the highest levels of inequality in Latin America, with a Gini index of 0.53.  What measures were in place to address poverty rates in rural and urban areas over the next five years?

Honduras had made progress in promoting access to water, electricity and sanitation, but less than half of the population had access to flushing toilets and public garbage collection.  Many people were affected by water pollution.  What measures were in place to improve the provision of water and sanitation services?

Honduras was highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as landslides and floods, which disproportionately affected indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups.  A climate change bill had been developed, but there were concerns that human rights considerations were omitted from the bill.  How were affected communities involved in drafting the bill and how would the bill address human rights issues?

Several departments in the State had high levels of food insecurity.  How was the State party addressing food insecurity, malnutrition and obesity?  There was a high maternal mortality rate, and the health sector had a lack of staff.  The current Government was promoting universal health coverage and had drafted a law on universal access.  What progress had been made in strengthening the health sector?  Honduras had implemented a total ban on abortions.  Only 58 per cent of women had access to private reproductive health services and there was a lack of access to contraceptives.  There were high rates of teenage pregnancy, particularly in rural areas.  What measures were in place to address these issues?  What harm reduction and rehabilitation programmes were in place for drug users?  Had the possession of small quantities of drugs been decriminalised?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there had been a 60 per cent increase in the health budget between 2021 and 2023.  Since 2021, more than 6,000 new healthcare staff had been recruited, increasing staff levels by 33 per cent.  The State party was building eight new hospitals and 68 emergency care centres in remote areas.  It had invested funding in maternal health units in existing hospitals, benefiting 1.6 million people.  The State party had developed a comprehensive strategy on sexual and reproductive health that promoted easy access to the abortion pill.  Training for healthcare staff on reproductive health had been strengthened.  The Government had opened 40 reproductive health centres for young people.

Honduras had been providing cash transfers to families in rural areas to address inequality through its Solidarity Network.  Around 130,000 households had been included in this programme.  A census was being carried out in the poorest suburbs of urban areas, and monetary transfers, primary healthcare units, soup kitchens and other support would soon be extended to these suburbs.  There had been a 10 per cent reduction in food insecurity in Honduras between 2020 and 2024, thanks to food insecurity programmes.

Between 2022 and 2024, the Human Rights Office had revised the law on trafficking in persons.  The budget for the committee responsible for supporting victims of trafficking had been doubled.  An office to tackle sexual exploitation and monitor trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation had been set up.

A national programme was in place to facilitate access to water for small-scale farmers.  Licences provided to mining companies that polluted water supplies were revoked.  New certification processes were in place for mining that included monitoring of water sources and land use.  An oversight system for forestry areas had been set up.  The State party aimed to achieve zero deforestation by 2029.  The President had established an inter-sectoral commission working to return ancestral lands to the Garifuna and other indigenous communities who were illegally evicted over the last 30 years.  The State party was developing a protocol to tackle violent forced evictions.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures to disincentivise gang activities in Honduras; measures to address internal displacement caused by conflict; reasons for the total ban on abortion and the potential for progress in decriminalising abortion; the status of the bill on reproductive health education for teenagers; progress on allowing people to update their gender identities; and progress in developing a climate change adaption framework and ensuring that the voices of affected communities were included in the framework.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Government had updated its family planning manual, which provided information on voluntary family planning services and contraception, which were now available for all women.  Honduras had authorised an emergency contraception system and planned to achieve 100 per cent supply of contraception across the country.  The President had vetoed a bill on teenage reproductive health as it was deemed to not appropriately protect teenagers.  The Government would continue to discuss a law on reproductive health.  Only a very small number of women had been taken to court for receiving abortions.

Alcoholism and tobacco use were the major drug addictions seen across the population.  There were regulatory measures in place to prevent the circulation of synthetic drugs and opioids.  The mental health programme, which addressed addiction, had been restored and a mental health law was being developed.

Honduras had adopted a law on internal displacement and was discussing broadening the scope of the law to address persons displaced by climate change.  Assistance measures such as food kits, hostels and transport support were provided to internally displaced persons.  Assistance had been provided to 865 internally displaced persons in recent years.  The State party had held 18 roundtables on conflict settlement across the country.  It was providing training on conflict resolution for public officials and civil society organizations.

Gangs posed threats to citizens’ safety.  The state of emergency to address gang violence was a temporary rather than permanent measure.  It had led to a reduction in murders and other violent crimes.  Honduras now had its lowest murder rate in 20 years.  A dedicated body was working to prevent the recruitment of children in gangs through awareness raising campaigns.

The civil registry had been changed to allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons to change their registered names.  The National Congress had yet to approve changes to registered genders.

Honduras was committed to tackling climate change.  No licences for the exploitation of natural resources had been granted by the current Government.  National parks had been established to prevent the exploitation of indigenous lands.

In the public sector, women made up 60 per cent of the workforce, while in the private sector, men made up 73 per cent of the workforce.  The Government had been implementing policies to close the gender wage gap and support the formalisation of work for women working in maquila and other vulnerable sectors.  Credit was being provided to women in the informal sector to support their access to entrepreneurship.  Awareness raising campaigns were in place to inform domestic workers of their rights and a policy on the protection of domestic workers had been adopted, which promoted their free trade union rights.  The State party had set up a commission to study the minimum wage in the textile sector.

The Government was ensuring that there was no discrimination against refugees and asylum seekers.  Foreigners with residence permits could access the labour market.  The State party was working to ratify International Labour Organization conventions 185, 187 and 189.

The Secretary of Education had increased the budget each year for the past four years, with a 26 per cent increase from 2019 to 2024.  The Government was working to increase enrolment in compulsory education through the school meals programme and solidarity programmes.  Migrations and violence were major causes of dropouts, and the State party was working to address these issues.  Rapid response tools were being implemented in schools across the country to prevent dropouts.  The State party had reviewed textbooks to ensure the use of inclusive terms and remove gender stereotypes.  The Government had developed training programmes on preventing bullying that targeted students, parents and teachers.  Investments had been made to develop classrooms that were accessible for children with disabilities.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the legal status of the Covenant and mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations; and on what the State party was doing to analyse and address public debt, which made up the highest proportion of the budget.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said all international instruments ratified by Honduras became intrinsic parts of domestic law.  International instruments prevailed when there was a contradiction between them and domestic law.  The Covenant was frequently invoked by the Supreme Court of Justice regarding violations of rights by companies.

Trusts had been created to connect public debt to the national bank.  Honduras was seeking to increase its trading and financing relations with the international community.

The prosecution office had conducted various activities to combat corruption and recover embezzled resources.  A specialised court to prosecute public officials and a unit to investigate cases of corruption had been set up.

Concluding Remarks

LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and country rapporteur, thanked the delegation for participating in the dialogue, which had demonstrated the challenges being faced by Honduras and the progress it had made.  There was still a long way to go for economic, social and cultural rights to be fully realised across Honduras.  The Committee would continue to pay close attention to the state of emergency, which impacted rights and freedoms.  Further thought needed to be devoted to the outcome of the state of emergency.  In the rich dialogue, Honduras had demonstrated its commitment to implementing the Covenant.  Mr. Hennebel called on the State party to implement the Committee’s concluding observations and to continue to cooperate with the Committee as it worked to ensure better protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

ANGÉLICA LIZETH ÁLVAREZ, Secretary of State for Law, Office of Human Rights of Honduras, and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue, and called on it to support the State as it worked to implement key reforms related to economic, social and cultural rights.  The first such reform was of the State’s energy policy, to ensure that it promoted universal access to sustainable energy.  The second was the reform of the law on fiscal and tax justice, which sought to ensure that taxation was fair and transparent to ensure better redistribution of resources.  The State party wished to ensure that its policies promoted human rights and were in line with international human rights standards.  Honduras remained committed to the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights, and would continue to progress with reforms.

Link: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/meeting-summary/2024/09/examen-du-honduras-au-comite-des-droits-economiques-sociaux-et

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