Land Defenders

A Garífuna encampment in Tegucigalpa has maintained a protest for over 70 days demanding that Honduras drop criminal charges against five land defenders arrested during a July 6 police eviction in San Juan and comply with four Inter-American Court rulings.

A human-rights attorney says proposed changes to Honduras's penal code risk allowing warrantless raids and vague terrorism charges that could criminalize land and environmental defenders and political dissidents, citing public distrust in the judiciary.

Amnesty International's global director Erika Guevara says Honduras faces persistent cycles of impunity for violence and severe human rights violations against land and environmental defenders.

Miriam Miranda, coordinator of the Garífuna rights organization Ofraneh, rejected a Supreme Court invitation to discuss territorial disputes, insisting the government must first dismiss criminal charges against five land defenders accused under a controversial agroindustrial law.

A prominent defense lawyer argues that Honduras's justice system treats environmental and land-rights activists like high-risk criminals while showing leniency toward powerful figures, citing the cases of Guapinol and five Garifuna defenders arrested in San Juan.