In February, Honduran smallholder farmer organisations presented the “Emergency Law for the Reactivation of the Agricultural, Livestock and Forestry Sector to Combat Poverty” before the National Congress. The legislation aims to end the environmental, agrarian and food crisis in Honduras.
PBI is delighted to welcome Mary Lawlor into her new position as UN Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders (HRDs) and excited to collaborate with her to ensure she can fulfil her mandate; increasing the security for HRDs across the world, drawing attention to their specific needs and challenges and addressing State shortcomings in terms of their protection. We had the pleasure of speaking with Mary about her priorities and goals for her new position.
“I thank PBI for accompanying me in the defence of human rights and the exercise of journalism. Without this accompaniment, I think my name would be on a forgotten gravestone”. With these words, Dina Meza, journalist and director of the Association for Democracy and Human Rights in Honduras (ASOPODEHU) sums up the presence of PBI in the Central American country since its arrival in 2013.
“Journalists strengthen democracy and work to inform citizens. They should have access to all necessary biosecurity equipment to work during this emergency, but this is not the case”, explains journalist and human rights defender Dina Meza.
The situation for Honduras’s LGBTQI+ community was already critical before the current health emergency, but the arrival of COVID-19 to this Central American country has led to a double violation of their rights. This is how the Arcoiris LGBT Association describes their situation, explaining that the coronavirus pandemic has had a greater impact on the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
The difficulties faced by rural communities prior to the COVID-19 health crisis were already alarming. However, with the arrival of this global pandemic, smallholder farmers have seen their problems multiply. Under a state of emergency, where basic rights like access to health and food are limited, the helplessness of many families is concerning. This comes in addition to the intensified militarisation of the countryside under Decree PCM-052-2019, published in October 2019.
In this extraordinary time of uncertainty, fear and instability, Peace Brigades International (PBI) extends our solidarity to all of you who are struggling to remain optimistic in the face of such unique and global challenges.
PBI accompany human rights defenders in different parts of the world who push for social justice and respect for the rule of law. This work often implies considerable risk. PBI supports many defenders who have been crimianlised for the work they carry out, meaning the legal system is used against them in order to stop their resistance.
“We are not demanding new or special rights for people who identify as LGBT. We are just asking for the rights of all people to be respected”. Those were the words of Esdra Sosa, director of the Asociación LGBT Arcoiris on 6 December during the launch of the documentary ‘We are. Voices of Diversity (Somos.
This December, and continuously, PBI puts human rights defenders at the centre, in the position they deserve given the fundamental role they play in the protection of human rights and the construction of fair and peaceful societies. Human rights defenders continue to provide voices for the voiceless, pushing for social justice. They often risk their lives to stand up for what they believe in, holding states to account and pushing for human rights to be respected, protected and fulfilled.