Honduran authorities restrict participation of human rights defender in UPR

Just days before the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – the mechanism of the United Nations to review the States compliance with Human Rights- of Honduras, the national judicial authorities have refused to grant the Association of Judges for Democracy (AJD) representative Judge Mario Rolando Díaz leave of absence, which would allow him to participate in the Review in Geneva. FIAN International is deeply concerned about this restriction and stresses human rights defenders should be able to take part in and make use of international spaces to advance and promote human rights.

Judge Rolando Diaz, president of the Board of AJD, intended to travel as part of the delegation to Geneva at the UPR but was informed this week he wouldn’t be allowed to join, AJD informs in a recent statement.

The AJD has been an active part of the UPR Platform in Honduras, an alliance of nearly fifty civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in the promotion and defense of human rights that have come together to strengthen their work before the UPR. Human rights defenders composing the platform have been, however, repeatedly defamed ever since.

While today, 8th May, the UPR is taking place, the outcomes of the review will come to light on the 12th, when member states give their assessment and recommendations to the state of Honduras towards the adequate realization of human rights. 

For more information, please see the statement by the AJD.