Wednesday 21 March 
3:30pm
Room XXV
Palais des Nations, Geneva

In November 2017, general government elections took place in Honduras. A series of irregularities led large sectors of the population to question the credibility of the process and to mobilise on the streets in defense of democracy. 

In response, the government declared a state of emergency and agents of the National Police, the Military Police of the Public Order and the Army were deployed throughout the country, using excessive force. Serious violations of human rights took place. During those days, human rights defenders, journalists and social communicators continued to work under high-risk conditions.

What were the facts? What challenges do human rights defenders currently face in order to recover the full exercise of their rights in conditions of security? What are the lessons learned for the countries of Central America and other regions of the world?

Based on the analysis of the facts (1), a conversation between international observers and human rights defenders who have experienced this situation directly seeks to answer these questions.