https://www.fidh.org/en/region/americas/honduras/122-ngos-urge-the-eu-to-take-action-following-murder-of-bertacaceres
www.fidh.org
is essential to define ways to cooperate in the framework of the association agreement to better prevent
similar situations.
The case is unfortunately not an isolated one. Since 2009, the government of Honduras has licensed
hundreds of environmentally destructive mega-projects, including mines, hydroelectric dams and model
cities, ignoring its obligation to seek consent from indigenous communities. Between 2010 and 2015,
109 environmental activists were murdered, reported Global Witness. With regard to the Gualcarque
river, the Agua Zarca hydroproject impacted on the source of food and drinking water of the Lenca
people. Although relatively small, the proposed dam would desiccate the river and render life
impossible for the Rio Blanco community. The protests against the project began early on and provoked
the disengagement of several stakeholders. Threats, harassment, and violence nevertheless
surrounded the resistance for years. Several issues are at stake, the duty of States to respect, protect,
and fulfil human rights, the obligation of the EU to design and implement its policies in order to
consolidate human rights and the rule of law, the responsibility of the companies to respect human
rights throughout their operations and in relation to their business relationships, by carrying out human
rights due diligence.
Effective cooperation in the matter will benefit sustainable development and the rule of Law. It will
benefit all parties of the association agreement, each of them being provided an opportunity to share
experiences and best practices.
Yours sincerely,
Karim Lahidji, FIDH President
CC :
Mr Grard Karlshausen Vice-Chair, NGO sub-group
Ms Alba Ridao-Bouloumi, Vice-Chair, Business employer subgroup
***
FIDH is an international human rights NGO federating 178 organizations from close to 120 countries.
Since 1922, FIDH has been defending all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as set out
in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. FIDH's headquarters are in Paris and the organization
has offices in Abidjan, Bamako, Brussels, Conakry, Geneva, The Hague, New-York, Pretoria and
Tunis.
www.fidh.org