Background -- Police, abuse and violence -- Failures to protect and investigate -- Specific recommendations.

OVERCOMING VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY: HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES IN HONDURAS Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Dean Allison Chair Subcommittee on International Human Rights Scott Reid Chair MARCH 2015 41st PARLIAMENT, SECOND SESSION Published under the authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons SPEAKER'S PERMISSION Reproduction of the proceedings of [...] The decree gave amnesty to all Honduran citizens who, by their participation in the coup d'état of 28 June 2009, attempted or committed the crimes of treason, attacks on the form of government, terrorism, sedition, usurpation of powers, attacks on constitutionally guaranteed rights, disobedience, misuse of authority or violations of the duties of officials.16 The Inter-American Commission on Human [...] Moreover, the Commission concluded that police and army officials systematically obstructed investigations into these and other human rights violations.27 The Commission attributed responsibility for these human rights violations to de facto President Micheletti, to the head of the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, to the leadership of the National Police, and, with respect to violations of the [...] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights pointed out that the lack of an explicit mandate for the Commission to investigate human rights violations was inconsistent with the right of victims and of Honduran society to know the truth in cases of serious human rights violations and the right to know the identity of those who had a hand in those violations: IACHR, Preliminary Observations of the [...] The report was strongly critical of Honduran state security agents.39 The CDV also highlighted the ongoing effects of the coup, focusing on the climate of impunity that persisted in the country and the ill-effects of the January 2010 Amnesty Decree.

Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. Juan Orlando Hernandez won the presidency on November 24 in an election that international observers generally recognized as transparent, credible, and reflected the will of the Honduran electorate. Civilian authorities failed at times to maintain effective control over the security forces. Members of security forces committed human rights abuses and were turned over to the civilian justice system. Among the most serious human rights problems were corruption, intimidation, and institutional weakness of the justice system leading to widespread impunity; unlawful and arbitrary killings by security forces, organized criminal elements, and others; and harsh and at times life-threatening prison conditions. Pervasive societal violence persisted. There continued to be reports of killings in rural areas, including the Bajo Aguan region, of indigenous people, agricultural workers, bystanders, private security guards, and security forces related to land disputes, infrastructure development projects, organized crime, and other factors. Other human rights problems included violence against detainees; lengthy pretrial detentions and failure to provide due process of law; threats against journalists; corruption in government; violence against and harassment of women; child prostitution and abuse; trafficking in persons; encroachment on indigenous lands and discrimination against indigenous and Afro-descendent communities; violence against and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons; ineffective enforcement of labor laws; and child labor. The government took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses, but corruption, intimidation, and the poor functioning of the justice system were serious impediments to the protection of human rights. There continued to be instances in which military or police officials suspected of human rights violations were not investigated or punished.

IV. TORTURE AND ARBITRARY DETENTION