honduras case study

Development Indicators (2022): 

• GDP per capita  = US$5100

• Life expectancy = 71 M 78 F 

• MMR = 65 per 100,000 live births 

• IMR = 15.8 per 1000 live births 

• Literacy rate: 88% 

• Employment structure= 39% agriculture 21% industry 40% services 

Violence against women - Honduras has one of the worlds highest rates of Femicide (killing women based purely on their gender) in the world. Gang members often kill young women and their female relations if they refuse to enter into relationships or are seen in the comany of other men. 

Human Rights Issues: 

• unlawful use of force and corruption by the police

• killings in rural areas over land disputes 

• discrimination against indigenous populations 

• gang culture and drug-related violence

• organised crime inc. trafficking of child labour & child prostitution 

• pervasive societal violence inc. harassment and violence against women 

• intimidation, threats and killings of journalists 

• limited access to primary health care

• limited access to education 

• restrictive abortion rights - illegal in all cases (including risk to mother's life)

Narco-State:

"A country in which the illegal trade in narcotic drugs forms a substantial part of the economy" 

Former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez has been extradited to the USA to face charges of drugs and weapons smuggling. His brother is already serving a life sentence in a US prison. 

80% of the cocaine reaching the USA flows through Honduras. Hernandez is accured of being heavily involved in this trade and with the gangs who use Honduras. 

Global Governance Strategies Used 

The UN have sent Human Rights Advisers to Honduras at the request of the government. The aims are to strengthen government institutions, to build a stronger human rights culture, to help implement the Honduras National Human Rights Action Plan and co-ordinate work between civil society and the government. 

The USA are another key international player providing US$50 million in security aid between 2010-2014.  USAID provide vital work and support- see website below. 

The Honduran Government- set up Ministry for Justice and Human Rights, a Ministry for Security and  various other commissions to reform citizen security. It also relies heavily on the work of NGOs. 

Care International - one of the many NGOs working in Honduras to improve the standard of living of people in the country. Bottom up aid at a local scale working within the local communities. 

Kenco Coffee vs Gangs - a pilot scheme to take 20 young people out of the gang controlled towns out into the coffee growing countryside. Providing training and education in the coffee industry with the aim to make them be able to set up their own businesses and resist the influence of the gangs. 

Impacts of global governance on economic growth, development and stability 

Opportunities 

STABILITY 

• bilateral links with the USA are helping the economy & national security 

• political stability is being achieved with US support for anti-corruption and free & fair elections 

• Central America Regional Security Initiative- local governance has been strengthened 

ECONOMIC GROWTH 

• USA, UN and civil society are effectively implementing food security programmes, promoting economic diversification and training citizens in emergency response to natural disasters 

• Central America Free Trade Agreement - Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) allows small farmers and other enterprises to increase trade opportunities 

• USAID working in local areas to end poverty 

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

• 40% of population is under 15: the Honduran government has reformed its education policies by decentralising to local authorities in rural and urban areas to meet MDG targets 

• efforts being made to improve maternal and child health and nutrition, and prevent HIV/AIDS

Challenges 

INEQUALITY

• inequalities in urban areas like the industrial centre of San Pedro Sula

• rural-urban migration leads to housing shortages and the growth of squatter settlements which have problems of water supply and sanitation 

• unequal access to education and health care - between girls and boys but also by discrimination against HIV positive people 

INJUSTICE 

• judges face acts of intimidation 

• criminal justice system needs modernising 

• attacks on journalists continue

• violence against children continues 

• discrimination against indigenous populations 

• high incidence of violence related to drug trafficking and urban gangs 

How successful has global governance of human rights been in Honduras? 

UN most effective at a national level, NGOs have greater impact at a local level 

USAID provides greatest support nationally in improving level of development which then impacts human rights issues 

Most intervention is focused on urban areas so limited impact in rural locations 

Some progress has been made but still widespread HR issues

Aiming for long term improvements in development, have seen some progress towards areas but need more time to have a greater impact