HUMAN RIGHT HONDURAS


VOLUNTARIOS HONDURAS



lunes, 6 de mayo de 2013

Worrying the state of freedom of expression in Honduras

10:42 pm - Writing All Latin is wrong, as it has the highest rates of violence against the press, warned the Herald. UN Rapporteur, Frank de la Rue, insists: I will not bow by the limitations and content regulationSegún Carolina Botero, relatora especial de la CIDH, la situación que enfrenta la libertad de prensa en Honduras es “preocupante”. A esto hay que agregar los comunicadores que han sido asesinados en el país.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras The reality of press freedom around the world and especially in Latin America is still disappointing, as determined by Catalina Botero, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Botero participated in the international conference "Speak without risk", which closed last Saturday in this city under the World Day of Press Freedom. The Herald, which gave exclusive coverage to Honduras this event, spoke with Botero and she confessed that "concerned" the state of freedom of speech and press in Honduras. "All of Latin America is wrong," Botero said, while adding that "it is the one with higher rates of violence against the press" mainly "from organized crime." In Central "very serious problems", especially "by the advance of organized crime in the region."  


He commented that "the Commission has increased the number of tables precautionary journalists" because of the potential threat. Botero gave no exact figures not to have on hand. He said that has tripled the number of deaths worldwide prose writers in the last twelve years. According to UNESCO, host of this event, more than 600 journalists have been killed in the last ten years. He further claims that every week you take the life of a communicator in the world. Concern About Honduras Honduras said that "concerns us and we feel strongly that the government is planning to implement a plan to protect journalists." Botero said that the Minister of Human Rights in Honduras, Ana Pineda, and learned about the experience of this type of projects in Colombia. He further commented that he held a meeting with her and "apparently the government of Honduras has a genuine interest and important to implement a protection plan." He pledged to "accompany" the program to give journalists "the protection they need," but especially for that "effective" and "well designed".

 In Honduras have been killed 34 media workers since 2003 and only one case has been brought before the courts. According to statistics of the National Commissioner for Human Rights (CONADEH), in the present administration of Porfirio Lobo Sosa are around 27 media workers who have died violently. Juan Ramón Mairena, president of the Association of Journalists of Honduras, analyzed that "97 percent of the murders of journalists go unpunished in our country." Mairena exposed this terrible and unfortunate situation of impunity in this forum held in Costa Rica, where he also questioned the level of neglect of the government of Porfirio Lobo Sosa. For its part, Pineda, the Honduran Human Rights Minister confirmed to the Herald that already have that bill to protect journalists and what remains is that "the Ministry of Finance finds the budget to liven law ". However, the minister emphasized not only the government's responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists. In his opinion the general public and businesses, the media should also make their contribution to the subject. IACHR, UN and "gag" In Honduras also lurks the danger of adopting a new Framework Law on Telecommunications, which would affect free speech and censor the media content they report. The Herald he raised the issue with the Rapporteur of the IACHR and said "we have received different versions", so consider the case. Botero confided that "two days ago I received the latest version", which is why he preferred "not pass judgment based on previous reports." The Government sent a proposal to Congress to press a new framework law. The legislature appointed a special committee to develop a program of socialization (for many failed) from which emerged a new proposal. In its first report, the commission proposed that instead of a law be created Four: Telecommunications Act, Freedom of the Press Law, Antitrust Law and Law on State Contracting and Public Private Partnerships. 's Own Human Rights Minister hinted that Congress would legislate beyond what was asked. Announced make an analysis of what the commission proposed. For the next Frank la Rue, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression of the UN, who visited the country recently (at the request of the government) to make recommendations on this law, reiterated that "the government should not interfere or censor content." "I am not inclined to the limitations, or content regulation" to freedom of the press, except "when there is incitement to terrorism, genocide, child pornography," but this is not the case of Honduras, said.  

He reiterated that there is a regulatory body should not be the government but independent. Asked about the four laws proposed by the congressional committee, said "there must be a frequency regulation and I think another child protection, but I would say that content will not try to get". He said the proposal to publish the list of the main advertisers of the media "violates the principle of privacy." "Entering private institutions would only if they are handling public funds," he said. Honduras was exposed in this international forum for the increase to the violation of fundamental rights of freedom of expression for the murder of journalists, however for the Rapporteur of the IACHR "we must be optimistic." Following rejection of the 'gag law "Apparently no one wants to know about the combo of the four" gag laws "than last week were forged in Congress. At least that is what follows the abandonment that made last week to the work tables torales sectors such as the Association of Journalists of Honduras (CPH), the Honduran Press Association (APH) and the father of the initiative, the C-Libre. The latter withdrew on Friday to consider what exists in Congress is not even close to the original project raised Lobo Sosa. Also, do not dispute that involved all sectors related or that would be affected by the reform. Proponents of these initiatives, constitutional flawed, have been the president Porfirio Lobo and officials Ana Pineda and Cesar Ham. The head of the National Commissioner for Human Rights (CONADEH), Ramon Custodio, reported that with the approval of the new Telecommunications Act, which is known as the "gag rule" was violated at least 14 articles of the Constitution, treaties and conventions. The argument so far has not been refuted by the government. The UN rapporteur, Frank la Rue, made it clear that the contents can not be regulated and warned that the only restrictions are already covered in the American Convention on Human Rights.

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