In the current context, in Honduras, the comprehensive protection of human rights defenders is a key issue. This includes measures and tools to prevent or reduce the impact of possible attacks, including networking, personal and institutional security, self-care and psychosocial support. On the other hand, protection mechanisms for defenders exist at the national and international level: the National Protection System, guidelines for the protection of human rights defenders from the European Union and other States, and the precautionary and provisional measures of the Inter-American Human Rights System. The correct implementation of these mechanisms is also a fundamental part of comprehensive protection measures for defenders.
Graphic: Report from the Latin American Meeting on "Protection strategies for the defence of land” held on 30 May to 1 June in Tlalpan, Mexico City. The meeting was organised by Amnesty International, JASS Mesoamerica, Urgent Action Fund, Protection International, Brot für die Welt, Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Defensoras, Peace Brigades International, Front Line Defenders, in coordination with Serapaz México, UDEFEGUA, Consorcio Oaxaca, Aluna Acompañamiento Psicosocial, Somos Defensores, Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos, and the Red Latinoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Sociales y Ambientales.
The year 2022 was a year of change for Honduras: it was the first time in the country’s history that a woman assumed the presidency. For PBI Honduras, 2022 was also a year of change, but above all a year of growth: we began to accompany the organisations SOMOS CDC and ARCAH and we increased the number of activities carried out compared to 2021.
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.
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.
Being a human rights defender is a job that implies a lot of risk, often in contexts of socio-political violence and an increase in criminalisation. The stress and constant concerns that this work brings with it generates a series of impacts on both physical and emotional levels that do not only attack the human rights defender personally, but also weaken their collective organisational processes of resistance.