AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

In October 2004, the Center for the Prevention of Torture Victims and their Relatives (Centro de Prevención Tratamiento y Rehabilitación de las Víctimas de la Tortura y sus Familiares, CPTRT) in Tegucigalpa once again became a target for attacks and death threats as an apparent reprisal for their human rights work. The center has been the object of three attacks, including office break-ins and death threats, in the last year. This most recent attack occurred on the night of 26 October 2004. Unknown intruders broke into the offices, rifled through confidential patient files, and left threats scrawled over the walls of the offices.

CPTRT offers psychological support to victims of torture and institutional violence and their family members. In addition to rehabilitation services, CPTRT conducts trainings with prison personnel, police officers, and administrators in the judicial system on culturally sensitive treatment models and organizational skills. The center also documents and monitors cases of torture and conducts research on the general human rights situation in Honduras.

CPTRT staff believes that the threats and break-ins are intended to intimidate the organization from pursuing their documentation work. In the past few years, the center has conducted research that demonstrates that the National Police and the Public Ministry are responsible for extrajudicial executions of street children and the abuse of prisoners in federal jails. In recent months, the center has lent its support to members of the Public Ministry who have been apparently dismissed from their position for publicly voicing their concern about internal corruption and mistreatment of prisoners at many of Honduras’ prisons.

CPTRT staff are particularly concerned because none of the three attacks on their offices nor the threats made against their staff have been adequately investigated. None of the staff have been offered protection from the government. According to Amnesty International (AI), there are numerous reports of attacks against Honduran human rights defenders, but the authorities rarely investigate the cases effectively. AI is concerned that the lack of credible investigations has the effect of encouraging future attacks because those responsible have the “knowledge that their impunity is all but guaranteed.”

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

American Convention on Human Rights

• Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

• Article 13: Each State Party shall ensure that any individual who alleges he has been subjected to torture in any territory under its jurisdiction has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by, its competent authorities. Steps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any evidence given.
• Article 14: Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
• Article 13: An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority.

The Human Rights Defenders Declaration

• Article 12(2): The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights].
• Article 6(b): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Article 7: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing your concern that the October break in of the Center for the Prevention of Torture Victims and their Relatives (Centro de Prevención Tratamiento y Rehabilitación de las Víctimas de la Tortura y sus Familiares, CPTRT) may be politically motivated;
• Requesting that the government take immediate steps to ensure the safety of CPTRT staff; and
• Urging the government to undertake an immediate, full, and impartial investigation into this incident and to make the results of the investigation public.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Lic. Ricardo Maduro
Presidente de la República de Honduras
Casa Presidencial
Boulevard Juan Pablo Segundo
Palacio José Cecilio del Valle
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: 011 504 235 7700
Salutation: President/Señor Presidente:

Dr. Oscar Alvarez
Ministro de Seguridad Publica
Ministerio de Seguridad Publica
Edificio Poujol, 4o piso
Col. Palmira (Blvd. Morazan)
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: 011 504 220 4352
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister:

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Mario Miguel Canahuati
Ambassador of Honduras to the United States
Embassy of Honduras
3007 Tilden St. NW Suite 4-M
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 966 9751
embassy@hondurasemb.org
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador:

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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