Overview of Human Rights in Honduras

Honduras is a constitutional democracy; however, it is also one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. That coupled with high levels of government corruption, gang violence, and impunity for many law breakers, negatively affects Honduras' human rights track record.

Members of the security forces commit extra-judicial killings. Illegal searches, arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention and abuse of suspects are some of the key human rights violations at stake. Crimes committed by the security forces, military elite and the government go unpunished.

A lack of government funding and a corrupt judicial system does not allow for due process of the law. Harsh prison conditions await those who are found guilty.

Other human rights abuses include discrimination against indigenous people, homosexuals, and the lack of effective of labor laws. Child abuse, child prostitution, and trafficking of persons are problems in the region.

Note: A rising crime problem has spurred questions about the country's current socio-economic problems, ultimately leading to implications for the government about its handling of the matter.  At issue has been the government's decision in 2007 to force the media to broadcast its own agenda [i.e. propaganda] for two hours daily.  Journalists and the political opposition have warned that media repression was akin to the kinds of tactics used by military governments, which held power in Honduras during the 1980s. 

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

117th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.