FAAE Committee News Release
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
|
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development |
|
Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
OVERCOMING VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY: HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES IN HONDURAS
Ottawa, March 30, 2015 -
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development today presented a report prepared by its Subcommittee on International Human Rights entitled, Overcoming Violence and Impunity: Human Rights Challenges in Honduras. The report makes 12 recommendations for Canadian policy towards Honduras.
RECOMMENDATION 1
That the Government of Canada take advantage of appropriate opportunities to stress to the Government of Honduras the need for independent, impartial investigations into killings, threats and other attacks on human rights defenders, journalists, justice sector workers and other peaceful activists in Honduras.
RECOMMENDATION 2
That the Government of Canada provide both public and private diplomatic support, as appropriate, to individual human rights defenders under threat in Honduras.
RECOMMENDATION 3
That the Government of Canada raise with the Government of Honduras the murders of lawyer Antonio Trejo and his brother, José Trejo.
RECOMMENDATION 4
That the Government of Canada raise with the Government of Honduras the issue of the continuing threats and attacks against members of the Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH).
RECOMMENDATION 5
That the Government of Canada continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Government of Honduras’ implementation of precautionary measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in respect of human rights defenders, journalists, justice sector workers and other peaceful activists — including, in particular, members of the Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH).
RECOMMENDATION 6
That the Government of Canada encourage the Government of Honduras to increase its engagement with Honduran human rights defenders, civil society organizations, journalists and media workers, in particular when it is planning legislation or initiatives that may have an impact on human rights.
RECOMMENDATION 7
That the Government of Canada call upon the Government of Honduras to accelerate efforts to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in particular by ensuring that those responsible for the human rights violations documented by the Commission are brought to justice.
RECOMMENDATION 8
That the Government of Canada urge the Government of Honduras to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendation to remove political and policing functions from the mandate of the Honduran Armed Forces and to ensure that the Armed Forces remain under effective civil control.
RECOMMENDATION 9
That the Government of Canada reiterate to the Government of Honduras the importance Canada places on ensuring the independence and impartiality of the Honduran judiciary.
RECOMMENDATION 10
That the Government of Canada continue to raise human rights issues in the G-16 group of 16 donor countries and to encourage this group to push for greater respect for human rights by the Government of Honduras.
RECOMMENDATION 11
That, through its international assistance to Honduras, the Government of Canada continue to support programming which aims to improve respect for civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights, as well as strengthening the justice sector in the country.
RECOMMENDATION 12 That the Government of Canada continue to reiterate its expectation that Canadian companies operating in Honduras will promote Canadian values, operate with the highest ethical standards, respect for human rights and all applicable laws, and meet or exceed widely-recognized international standards for responsible business conduct such as the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
- 30 -
|