Honduras: EU Presidency Declaration on the recent killings

The European Union condemns the recent murders of civil society and media representatives or their relatives in Honduras and expresses its solidarity with their families. It is important that an investigation of these murders is conducted promptly, transparently and thoroughly. The perpetrators of the murders must be brought to justice.

The European Union draws special attention to the murder of Walter Trochez who worked as a human rights defender of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and as a member of the National Front of Resistance in Honduras on 13 December, as well as to the murder of Katherine Nicolle Rodríguez Cabrera, the sixteen year-old daughter of journalist Karol Cabrera, on 17 December.

The European Union recalls the obligation of the Honduran authorities to protect the human rights, including the freedom of expression, and the personal security of all persons in Honduras and calls upon all political groups in Honduras to abstain from acts of violence. In this regard, the EU urges the Honduran authorities to do everything in their power to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The European Union also underlines the principle of non-discrimination, which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being, regardless, inter alia, of sexual orientation or gender identity as outlined in the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

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• Honduras: EU Declaration on the Inauguration of Mr. Porfirio Lobo (27/1/2010)
• Press Release: Panel Discussion on “Opposing grave Human Rights Violations on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” (10/12/2009)
• EU Council conclusions on Human Rights and Democratisation in third countries (8/12/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement – United Nations General Assembly: Situation in Central America (28/10/2009)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions on Afghanistan, EUSEC RD Congo, Honduras, Sudan, and more (15/9/2009)
• EU Council conclusions on Honduras (15/9/2009)
• Honduras: EU Presidency Declaration supporting the mediation efforts by Oscar Arias (11/8/2009)