PBI and PRODERCHOS express concern to UN Human Rights Council on lack of implementation of Guiding Principles in Honduras

On June 29, Peace Brigades International and PRODERECHOS (comprised of Oxfam, Lawyers Without Borders-Canada and CEHPRODEC) presented to the UN Human Rights Council on the implementation of the Guiding Principles in Honduras.

The presentation was made by Carlos Padilla Roiz of the PBI-Honduras accompanied Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Community Development (CEHPRODEC) during the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Joint statement

The joint statement highlighted:

“A year ago, the Working Group presented its mission report on Honduras to this Council, with consistent recommendations for the implementation of the Guiding Principles in the country. To date, they identify little progress, persisting the impact on human rights.

Eight human rights defenders, three of them women, and mainly linked to the defense of the territory, were assassinated in 2020.

According to OHCHR, so far in 2021, they register at least 40 assaults.

These events lead us to share today the concern and deep disappointment expressed by the Working Group in their report Tenth Anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

It is urgent that the State of Honduras reinforce its commitment to comply with the principles governing bodies and adopt the regulatory, political and administrative measures necessary to comply with the recommendations of the working group.”

Working group report on Honduras

The Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises conducted a visit to Honduras from August 19-28, 2019.

The Working Group stated: “The State must act now to put an end to recurring attacks, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders, union leaders, indigenous peoples and community representatives who speak out against business-related human rights abuse and large-scale development projects.”

Tenth anniversary and Binding Treaty

The Guiding Principles were endorsed by the Human Rights Council through resolution 17/4 on June 16, 2011.

Peace Brigades International has long supported a Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights as an instrument that would offer more leverage and protection to human rights defenders, notably land and environmental rights defenders.

The 7th session of negotiations on the Binding Treaty will take place this October.

The video of the PBI and PRODERECHOS statement to the UN Human Rights Council can be seen at the 49 :17 mark here.