The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project has posted this short video on social media along with text that says:
“Donny Reyes of @arcoirishn expressed concern about the risks and discrimination faced by LGBTI+ people during the session of the Human Rights Council (@onuderechoshumanos) on the adoption of the 2025 Universal Periodic Review. At PBI, we remind the international community of the need to monitor compliance with these recommendations.”
In the video, Reyes says: “The Sexual Diversity Committee of Honduras submitted 20 recommendations to the UPR [including] to decentralize and strengthen the national protection mechanism for defenders, promoting technical and financial resources for it.”
“We are not asking for Privileges”
One of the recommendations in “We are not asking for privileges: Report prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Honduras, November 2025” published by the Committee for Sexual Diversity of Honduras (CDSH) and Peace Brigades International (PBI) Honduras in April 2025 is:
“Decentralize and strengthen the National Protection System (SNP), providing it with the technical and financial resources necessary for an effective protection response to human rights defenders.”
Canada’s position at the UPR
On November 7, 2025, Canada commented on the protection needs of human rights defenders in Honduras during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Honduras at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Speaking on behalf of Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, Joseph Flores Ayala stated: “Canada recommends that Honduras fully implement the National Protection Mechanism by establishing robust accountability measures for state authorities who fail to provide adequate protection to human rights defenders, including Indigenous rights defenders, environmental rights defenders, and journalists.”
Voices at Risk
Voices at Risk: Canada’s Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders notes: “LGBTI HRDs are regularly subjected to harassment and intimidation, arrest, physical attack, negative portrayal in news media and social media, and interference with their lawful exercise of rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Some are killed for engaging in their work. LGBTI HRDs may also experience extreme isolation and a lack of political or social support from others, including other HRDs.”
Voices at Risk suggest several “best practices” for Canada’s embassies, consulates and missions including: “Mission staff should acquire a thorough understanding of the local context relevant to the work of LGBTI HRDs, including knowledge of national laws and policies for protecting the rights of LGBTI persons, as well as awareness of societal attitudes towards LGBTI communities.”
Accompaniment
Peace Brigades International began accompanying the Arcoíris LGTB Association of Honduras in 2015.
Additional reading: Honduras Protection Mechanism is inadequate in the face of high levels of intimidation of journalists, says UN rapporteur (OHCHR, November 1, 2023).
