A/HRC/33/42/Add.2
4.
Organizational capacity, communication media and cultural heritage
76.
The Special Rapporteur observed serious divisions among the organizations
representing indigenous peoples. Indigenous leaders repeatedly claimed that the State
authorities and other parties had promoted divisions among the indigenous peoples by
setting up parallel indigenous organizations or by exercising undue influence over
indigenous leaders, thereby causing mistrust in the communities and weakening the defence
of their rights and interests.
77.
The indigenous peoples also protested at the lack of support for their own
communication media, in particular their community radios. They criticized harassment by
the State authorities of the Lenca and Garífuna community radio stations, presumably on
account of the role that these stations played in promoting the rights of indigenous peoples.
It is a matter of concern that regulations on telecommunications place an undue burden on
community radio stations, so that they are forced to close.
78.
Another topic that arose was the right of indigenous peoples to participate in the
management of ancestral heritage sites run by the Government or international institutions
and to enjoy the related benefits. The Special Rapporteur was told of the work done in this
regard by the Chortí people at the Maya archaeological park in Copán and the work of the
Pech, Tawahka and Miskito peoples in Ciudad Blanca.
V. Conclusions and recommendations
79.
The situation of the indigenous peoples of Honduras is critical, since their
rights over their lands, territories and natural resources are not protected and they
face acts of violence when claiming their rights.
80.
They call for immediate and decisive protection measures, including the
prevention, investigation and punishment of persons responsible for murdering,
threatening and harassing members of indigenous peoples and of those responsible for
actions that infringe their rights over their lands, natural resources and other human
rights. The legal, political and institutional framework must be overhauled and
strengthened in order to deal with the situation properly and effectively, with reforms
including coordination between government agencies to ensure the cross-cutting
implementation of the Government’s international commitments on the rights of
indigenous peoples.
81.
All this requires more public resources and greater political will. Serious and
committed participation by the international community and the international human
rights bodies is also essential in order to ensure international oversight of such efforts
and provide the necessary technical and financial assistance.
Legal, political and institutional framework
82.
All the State agencies dealing with the indigenous peoples, in particular the
Office of the Special Prosecutor for Ethnic Groups and Cultural Heritage and the
Directorate of Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Peoples, should be significantly
strengthened and provided with the resources required to meet the needs of the
indigenous peoples as regards access to justice, protection of their lands and natural
resources and other rights. Another key institution requiring more resources is the
Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights, if the important aims set out
in paragraph 15 of its Plan of Action are to be achieved.
83.
Public officials and the private sector should be given education and training in
the international standards on the rights of indigenous peoples, with a particular focus
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