human rights defenders mechanisms

Lima, Peru, June 7, 2010 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) today published its Preliminary Observations on the visit it carried out to Honduras on May 15-18, 2010, to follow up on its August 2009 on-site visit and its report Honduras: Human Rights and the Coup d’État.

During the May 2010 visit, the Commission verified that human rights violations continue in the context of the coup d’état. The IACHR received information on the murder of a number of persons, including journalists and human rights defenders. In addition, human rights defenders, journalists, social communicators, teachers, trade union members, and members of the Resistance are subject to threats and harassment. (see press releases) | (more…)

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May 19, 2010 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) visited Honduras May 15-18 to follow up on its on-site visit of August 2009 and its report Honduras: Human Rights and the Coup d’État. The delegation was composed of IACHR Chair Felipe González, First Vice-Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Executive Secretary Santiago A. Canton, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Catalina Botero, and staff of the Executive Secretariat.

The IACHR met with officials from all three branches of the State, human rights defenders, journalists, civil society representatives, and members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It also met with representatives of the United Nations system in Honduras and with ambassadors from the Stockholm Declaration Follow-Up Group (G 16). The Commission’s report on the visit will be made public in the near future. (see press releases) | (more…)