“To defend water is to defend life itself” (Honduras)

“I don’t understand how it is that we can be given awards abroad [for our work], while at home, in Honduras, we are persecuted [for it],” expressed a perplexed Juana Zúniga when talking about the backlash against her community.

In 2018, the Government granted a concession for the Rivers of San Pedro and of Guapinol, located in the Carlos Escaleras National Park, to the mining company, Inversiones Pinares. The concession was marked by irregularities, such as legislation that reduced the Park’s core area by 200 hectares to allow the mining company to more fully exploit its mineral rights.

When the Guapinol and other nearby communities realized that the mining activities were polluting their main water supply, they filed a lawsuit against the Government.

“The right to water and to a healthy environment are social rights and the community is very clear about this. As citizens, we have the duty to defend the environment because we all need water; humans, flora and fauna,” said Guapinol defender Kelvin Romero.

Since then, artists and human rights defenders have set up protest camps and participated in demonstrations, concerts and other events. Protests in 2018 were marred by acts of violence, which the Government blamed on protestors and community activists.

The Government’s subsequent accusations of arson and damage to private property against 31 people resulted in the detention of 12 leaders of the movement, eight of whom remain in pretrial detention. The prosecution asserts that the activists are part of a criminal group, not HRDs.

UN Human Rights staff members visited the defenders in prison in October 2020 and November 2021. During those visits, the HRDs shared concerns about safety for themselves and their families. A Guapinol defender was murdered in suspicious circumstances outside his home.

The trial against the HRDs has been postponed several times, denying them their right to justice. During the last hearing, in December, the prosecution introduced a new charge of aggravated damages. This charge is under review by the Court of Appeals. 

As a result of these delays, the HRDs have been in pretrial detention for more than two years. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion that the detention is arbitrary and contrary to Honduras’ human rights obligations. Furthermore, the HRDs have been repeatedly denied their visitation rights, including to meet with their legal representatives. Four special rapporteurs have requested the Government to immediately release the defenders.

UN Human Rights conducted advocacy and provided legal support related to international human rights standards, including on HRDs, criminalization and excessive preventive detention to judicial and prosecutorial authorities. It also provided legal support to victims and their legal representatives. 

Following widespread smear campaigns that attempted to delegitimize their work as HRDs, UN Human Rights offered public support, emphasizing their roles as HRDs who are fighting for the well-being of their community and their region.

“To defend water is to defend life itself. We are fighting for the survival of our way of life and that of our community as a whole,” said Guapinol defender Arnold Alemán.