Geography case studies - HR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Case study : the impact of global governance of human rights in Honduras, an LIDC
→ Honduras is beset by economic, political, social and environmental problems
→ these are exacerbated by HR issues which further hold back Honduran development
→ one of the least developed countries in central america
→ in 2020:
– GDP per capita was US$2500.1,
– life expectancy 71.46 (male) 77.6 (female)
– total fertility rate 2.8
– MMR 120 per 100,000 live births
– IMR 17.8 per 1000 live births
– employment structure: 30.1% agriculture, 19.7% industry, 50.2% services
– 96.08% literacy
→ the country is politically unstable with military control till 1982 - since then civil authorities of of elected governments have
failed to control the security forces and failed to deal with human rights
→ 1998: country devastated by hurricane mitch- still slowly recovering
The human rights issues
→ has highest murder rates in the world
→ public safety institutions are ineffective
→ effects of unresolved HR issues:
– unlawful use of force and corruption - police
– killings in rural areas over land disputes
– discrimination against indigenous populations
– gang culture and drug related violence
– organised crime including child trafficking (labour and prostitution)
– societal violence against women
– intimidation, threats and killing of journalists
– poverty - 44% living on or under US$2 per day
– limited access to primary health care and education
Global governance strategies used
→ UN sent HR advisor Honduras at the request of its government
→ aim to strengthen government institutions working in HR to build stronger HR culture and to implement the Honduran
National Human Rights Action Plan
→ the USA is key international actor, providing US$50 million in security aid (2010-2014)
→ and continues to provide assistance through the Central American Regional Security Initiative
→ military and police aid available if the government meet HR stipulations
→ the Honduran government set up a ministry for justice and human rights, a ministry for security and various commissions to
reform citizen security and prevent torture
→ relies heavily on NGOs to address issues e.g provision of primary health care in rural areas
→ one NGO is Care International and has several projects in rural Honduras takiling HR issues ie poverty, education,
employment opportunity, health care, water provision and food production
→ areas USAID works on in Honduras: Citizen Security, Democracy and Governance, Economic Growth, Anti-corruption and
Transparency.
→ USAID supports community-based efforts to prevent crime and gang activity, support highest risk youth, strengthen
community-police relationships, provide school based violence prevention programs and life-skills training and vocational
, Geography case studies - HR
education to at-risk youth
Successes:
→ Hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated many Honduran communities in late 2020
→ With support from USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, GOAL collaborated with FIPAH and Water Mission to
provide multipurpose cash transfers to nearly 7,000 people, helping them regain livelihoods in the hardest-hit areas of the
country
→ GOAL also worked with authorities and communities to provide temporary shelters for vulnerable families, as well as access
to clean water, water filters, latrines, and hygiene kits
→ OHCHR - UN played a crucial role in preventing social conflict, monitoring protests and collecting reliable information on
related human rights violations and abuses, especially during the 2017 post-electoral crisis and the COVID-19 crisis. The
Office is using this information to promote access to justice for the victims and fight against impunity, as well as to advocate for
the adoption of necessary legislative and policy reforms.
Opportunities for stability, growth and development, and challenges of inequality and injustice
→ effects of global governance of HR are beginning to have an impact on Honduran socio-economic development
→ HDI increased from 0.461 in 1980 - under military control - to 0.634 in 2022
→ however many problems remain including challenges of urban and rural poverty and discrimination
Opportunities Challenges
Stability: Inequalities:
→ the bilateral links with USA are helping the economy and → inequalities between rich and poor are evident in urban
national security areas such as the industrial centre of San Pedro Sula
→ political stability is being achieved with US support for → Rural-urban migration leads to housing shortages, and
anti-corruption and free and fair elections inevitable problems of water supply and sanitation
→ under the CARSI, local governance is being strengthened → in both rural and urban locations there remains unequal
→ community based efforts to reduce crime and gang access to health care and education, not only between girls
activity include education for at risk youths and boys but also against those who are HIV-positive
Economic growth: Injustice:
→the USA, UN and civil society are implementing new food → judges face intimidation
programmes, promoting economic diversification and → the criminal justice system needs to be modernised with
training citizens in emergency response to natural disasters greater protection of HR
→under the CAFTA-DR, small farmers and other enterprises → attacks of journalists are still prevalent
are being assisted in increasing their trade opportunities → violence against children continue
→USAID is working in local areas to end poverty → discrimination against indigenous populations
Socio economic development: → high incidences of violence related to drug trafficking and
→ 30.11% of the population is under 15 (2021) : the urban gangs
Ministry of education in Honduras has reformed its policies Challenges:
by decentralising to local authorities in rural and urban areas → the percentage of seats held by women in national
in order to meet SDG targets for school enrollment parliament was 25.78% in 2016 and fell to 21.09% in 2020
→ efforts to improve maternal and child health and nutrition, → 30% of the population living on or under US$3.10 per
and to prevent HIV/AIDS are providing opportunities for day
further development - new HIV infections per 1,000
uninfected population was 0.4 in 2003 and decreased to
0.07 in 2020
Successes:
→ literacy rates increased from 88.94% in 2001 to 96.08%
in 2019
