A/HRC/46/12
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with
Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-sixth session from 2 to 13 November
2020. The review of Honduras was held at the 8th meeting, on 5 November 2020. The
delegation of Honduras was headed by the Vice-President of Honduras and Secretary of State
for Economic Development, María Antonia Rivera. At its 14th meeting, held on 10
November 2020, the Working Group adopted the report on Honduras.
2.
On 14 January 2020, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Honduras: Bulgaria, Brazil and India.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution
5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were
issued for the review of Honduras:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/36/HND/1);
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b)
(A/HRC/WG.6/36/HND/2);
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c)
(A/HRC/WG.6/36/HND/3).
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal
(on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting
and follow-up), Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Honduras through the
troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review.
I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process
A.
Presentation by the State under review
5.
The delegation of Honduras was honoured to present its third national report for the
universal periodic review. It considered that the review provided an opportunity to improve
the human rights situation in the country by allowing for the transparent presentation of
information on progress made and challenges faced and for the sharing of experiences.
Honduras attached great importance to the review mechanism, as demonstrated by the fact
that it was participating in it with a high-level delegation despite the crisis generated by the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and Hurricane Eta. The delegation appealed to
the solidarity of the international community to support the country’s efforts to guarantee
human rights during those crises.
6.
Since the previous cycle of the universal periodic review, Honduras had ratified
various international treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and the Arms Trade Treaty. It had strengthened its national human rights
system in line with the recommendations received. In 2018, Honduras had created the
Ministry of Human Rights to lead the implementation of the Public Policy and National
Action Plan on Human Rights. It had also established a number of mechanisms to monitor
progress in implementation, including the System for the Monitoring of Recommendations
of Honduras (SIMOREH), the system for linking public policy with the Sustainable
Development Goals and the Human Rights Observatory. Furthermore, Honduras had
maintained an open invitation to all special procedure mandate holders and had submitted all
pending reports to the treaty bodies.
7.
In 2016, at the request of the Government, an OHCHR country office had been set up
in Honduras. Since then, OHCHR had issued four annual reports and several special reports
on the human rights situation. OHCHR and the Ministry of Human Rights had agreed to
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