FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington - January 8, 2020 — In anticipation of the Honduran government’s decision regarding the future of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), Freedom House issued the following statement:
“MACCIH’s mandate should be extended past the current deadline of January 18, 2020, so that it can continue to help fight corruption and strengthen Honduran institutions,” said Deborah Ullmer, director of Latin America programs. “Freedom House stands with the Honduran civil society groups and movements that make up the Coalition for the Renewal of the MACCIH as they campaign for the mandate’s extension and work to restore citizens’ confidence in their justice system.”
Background:
On January 19, 2016, the Honduran government and the Organization of American States (OAS) signed an agreement to create the MACCIH in response to public demands for greater official accountability regarding both systemic corruption and human rights abuses. Over the past four years, the MACCIH has served as the greatest deterrent to government corruption in Honduras, strengthened institutions responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes, and bolstered civil society efforts to monitor abuses. However, it has faced political resistance, and in December 2019 a majority in the Honduran Congress recommended against renewing the mission’s mandate, which is due to expire this month if the government does not extend it.
Honduras is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2019.
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