Urgent: Protect Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Background: 

Our partner Juan Antonio López was murdered for speaking out against the corruption of local politicians and illegal mining in his community. Now, his colleagues at the Comité Municipal De Defensa De Los Bienes Comunes y Públicos De Tocoa are continuing his struggle to defend the community’s rights and wellbeing, including by seeking justice for López’s murder. 

This courageous work has become all the more dangerous in the wake of López’s assassination. His murder was meant to send a message: those who speak up to defend human rights and the environment will not be safe. 

In response, we must send an even louder message: the whole world is watching what happens in Honduras, and we demand government action to ensure these rights defenders’ safety. 

Act Now:

Environmental defenders are putting their lives on the line to protect our shared planet. They deserve to be protected in turn. Help us call on the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras to demand Honduran officials take immediate action to guard them from harm. These actions must include conducting a full and impartial investigation of López’s murder. 

Honduran authorities have reportedly made some initial arrests in the case; but blatant conflicts of interest have compromised their investigation. Our partners are urging the Honduran government to find the real authors of this crime—not to make sham arrests for the sake of appearances. The U.S. Ambassador should help us amplify this demand.

The U.S. government has a special obligation to take up this call, in light of the United States’ complicity in fueling the events that led up to López’s murder. Raising their voice now to demand safety for his colleagues is the least they can do to repair this legacy. 

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