Systematic Attacks on Women Under Honduran Coup

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Report on Women's Human Rights Violations Shows Systematic Attack on Women Under Honduran Coup
Laura Carlsen

On Nov. 2 representatives from Honduran women's organizations presented a grim panorama of violations of women's human rights by the de facto regime led by Roberto Micheletti before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. Their testimonies provided documented proof that the coup regime and its security forces have been responsible for rapes, beatings, murders and harassment of Honduran women in the resistance movement, and the dictatorial elimination of gains in gender equity. These crimes against women have been committed in the context of impunity for the perpetrators.

The rapid deterioration in respect for women's rights in Honduras can only be halted by an immediate return to a constitutional government. An agreement brokered by the State Department has so far failed to resolve the crisis and end the coup. This can be attributed in large part to a message from State Department official Tom Shannon that cast doubt on the U.S. commitment to reinstate the elected president, emboldening the coup regime in its efforts to preside over elections currently scheduled for Nov. 29.

In a famous speech to the Beijing conference in 1995, Hillary Clinton proclaimed that "women's rights are human rights" and that "women will never gain full dignity until their human rights are respected." As Secretary of State, she has publicly affirmed that women's rights will be a pillar of U.S. foreign policy. However, Clinton has yet to acknowledge the growing evidence of the violation of women's rights under the Honduran coup regime. It is time to take a firm stand to restore respect for the human rights of all Hondurans and end the coup.

Americas Program Coverage of the Coup in Honduras
http://www.americaspolicy.org/

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