Honduras: Update to Response to Information Request HND14339.E of 14 June 1993 and HND17626.E of 10 June 1994 regarding conjugal violence. legal recourse and the psychological, legal and material assistance available to victims
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HND22771.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Honduras: Update to Response to Information Request HND14339.E of 14 June 1993 and HND17626.E of 10 June 1994 regarding conjugal violence. legal recourse and the psychological, legal and material assistance available to victims, 1 January 1996, HND22771.FE, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abef34.html [accessed 5 November 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The DIRB was provided with the following information on 5 January 1995 by a representative of the Centro de Derechos de la Mujer in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, during a telephone conversation.
In 1995, the Honduran government ratified the Bélem do Pará Convention on protection of women's rights. During the past two years the Honduran government has not undertaken any major reform and has not amended its legislation in the area of conjugal violence. Nevertheless, the presence of women in the Honduran government has encouraged the development and adoption of measures to protect women against conjugal violence. Thus the government has passed a family counselling act and the ministry of health has already begun to open counselling centres as required by the new act. At least three such centres are already operating and the government intends to open others throughout the country. Campaigns to educate people and raise their awareness of conjugal violence are also under way. Changes to the provisions of the criminal code dealing with sex-related crimes and to sections of the family code on conjugal violence are on the agenda for the next session of the Honduran parliament.
No major change has been observed in cultural attitudes and behaviour patterns regarding conjugal violence. However, there does seem to be increased public awareness of the problem of conjugal violence, especially in the urban centres. This growing awareness-raising has led to an increase in the number of cases of conjugal violence reported to the police, more media coverage and occasional, unprecedented intervention by the authorities. In addition, the attitude of the legal authorities and other governmental authorities with regard to the problem of conjugal violence is gradually improving. A new public prosecutor's office has been created made up of special prosecutors assigned to cases involving women's rights. Local ombudsmen intervene in remote localities where the regular ombudsmen are not available. Attached are articles about conjugal violence in Honduras.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Centro de Derechos de la Mujer, Tegucigalpa, January 5, 1995. Telephone conversation with a representative.
Attachments
Inter Press Service (IPS). 7 September 1995. Thelma Mejia. "Women: Human Rights Tribunal to Study Case of Honduran Student." (NEXIS)
_____. 17 May 1995. Thelma Mejia. Women [in] Church, Feminists Unsheathe Swords as Beijing Looms. (NEXIS)
The Record [Hackensack, NJ]. November 24, 1995. "Troops Help Police Patrol Honduran Cities." (NEXIS)
The Times-Picayune [New Orleans]. 11 December 1995. "Man who Maimed Spouse Gets 20 Years." (NEXIS)
