THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS
Position Paper
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 1
I.
General Statement
As a proud member of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Republic of
Honduras is committed to cooperate in this year’s Summit for the purpose of reaching agreeable
terms to better hemispheric conditions. The Delegation of Honduras considers the OAS to be a
decisive organ acting towards prosperity for an enriched Western Hemisphere. Likewise, the
Delegation of Honduras is pleased to see continual efforts by all member states to join together
for this purpose. The Delegation of Honduras believes every nation in the Western Hemisphere
has probability to attain sovereign representation and equal voices on all issues for the purpose of
achieving the ultimate contributing democratic objective.
The Delegation of Honduras wishes to use its membership with the OAS to further efforts
towards human rights as a main focus for regional integration. This Delegation believes, firmly,
the region of Latin America deserves strong voices in global aspects concerning all members and
citizens. Through regional cooperation, this Delegation hopes to create financial efficiency,
increase transparency in law enforcement, improve prison and refugee rights, provide an
agreeable nonproliferation provision for the purpose of hemispheric security, and spread the
education of the allocation of water for the purpose of emphasizing basic human rights
throughout the hemisphere.
As it states in the OAS Charter, Chapter 7, Article 31, “Inter-American cooperation for
integral development is the common and joint responsibility of the Member States, within the
framework of the democratic principles and the institutions of the Inter-American system.”1
Moreover, this cooperation “should include the economic, social, educational, cultural, scientific,
and technological fields” while respecting “the priorities established by each country in its
development plans, without political ties or conditions.”2 This Delegation believes the theme of
human rights is amenable to all member states as it reflects the moral values of the OAS and its
intentions to protect its citizens. With the set of resolutions drafted by the committees of the
Delegation of Honduras, such intentions have the potential to be met.
As citizens’ security is of a main concern for member states, a standard of decision
making is necessary. The Delegation of Honduras believes fundamental human rights sets that
standard. According to the international organization of the United Nations, basic human rights
begins with the idea that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights…and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”3 Such human rights are entitled to
every person “without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political, or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”4 Above all,
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security.”5 These fundaments are internationally
related. With these fundamental rights set, the OAS’s goal to achieve a more peaceful
hemisphere becomes reachable. For this purpose, the Delegation of Honduras strongly
encourages the consideration of human rights when deciding on the agenda of the OAS to better
hemispheric conditions.
1
http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_A-41_Charter_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.htm
Ibid.
3
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
2
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 2
II.
Particular Statements
A.
Committee: General Committee (GC)
Topic One: Programs to Address Disparities in Wealth Distribution
The Republic of Honduras is fully aware of the disparities in wealth distribution amongst
the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) and looking to work with the
other delegations to improve the efficiency of the OAS budget. The Delegation of Honduras
believes that the influence of each member state’s government will play a decisive role in
effectively improving the budget while improving the quality of life for citizens of the OAS
member states, impoverished and fortunate alike.
The Delegation of Honduras plans to promote an effective improvement for the OAS
budget to increase the efficiency of spending. The Delegation hopes to accomplish this by hiring
a financial advisor through the OAS, available to all member states. The financial advisors’
purpose is to eradicate impoverished areas in all delegations to aid in education. The current
OAS budget for this coming fiscal year was US $84,320,000, including cost-of-living and
inflation adjustments. It should be a priority to the member states to utilize these funds in a more
efficient way. Considering 60% of the funding of the OAS budget comes from one member
state, all member states would benefit from spending more efficiently in hopes of diminishing
poverty and improving basic human rights. In the Republic of Honduras, the poverty line is 60%,
representing reasoning to address economic disparities.6 With this resolution, each member state
can send a representative from their countries to Washington, D.C. to meet with the advisor to
discuss ways to improve budget spending at a quarterly rate. The main topics discussed
concentrate on targeting specific spending areas where member states can cut spending and
continue efficiency, while respecting the discretion of each member state so as not to infringe on
any member’s sovereignty. With this, the group of financial advisors can create financial
efficiency in spending areas such as education and poverty, two categories imperative to the
well-being of each member state, the OAS, and fundamental human rights.
The avenues of spending are increasing in education and poverty to benefit each member
state. During Hurricane Mitch in 2008, the Republic of Honduras had close to 3,000 schools
destroyed across the country. With increased spending on education, member states can
accomplish improved facilities for poor structured schools, an implementation of upgraded
technologies in adaption to new educational innovations, and a raise in academic standards
ensuring students are receive a quality education. These matters are of importance to the OAS for
the purpose of bettering living conditions. Moreover, the set values of basic human rights
attaches a moral outline for the OAS to consider these financial modifications as an adaptable
broad concern.
6
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ho.html
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
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B.
Committee: Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (ESID)
Topic Two: Sharing and Allocation of Water Resources
The Republic of Honduras recognizes the OAS’s agenda to “develop its cultural,
political, and economic life freely and naturally” with respect to the “rights of the individual and
the principles of universal morality.”7 The Republic of Honduras believes educational programs
on water resources help advance the system of allocating water amongst OAS member states.
This issue is prevailing to 30 million Latin Americans still living without safe drinking water.8
The Republic of Honduras believes with better education on the horrid water conditions in areas
all across OAS member states furthers actions on the improvement of water for the Americas.
Thus, a desire to expand initialize workshops for the emphasis water treatment as an educational
experience is met.
The region of Latin America holds one of the highest per capital allocations of fresh
water, 110,500 cubic feet per person per year, however, geography, pollution, and social
inequality has weakened its access to water.9 Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina are
currently facing desertification due to human-induced salination.10 Unregulated industrialization
and urban poverty have affected the largest cities in Latin America, causing damage to 50% of
its water supply through infrastructure leakage.11 Across the region, water basins and aquatic
habitats are often dumpsites for garbage, mining effluent, and industrial and agricultural waste
leaving waste to flow untreated and millions without clean water.12
World Water Day is held every March 22nd for the celebration of water and focus on
different water issues at an international level.13 Through the Millennium Development Goals,
the world’s time-bound target to address growing concerns circling extreme poverty, the region
of Latin America and the Caribbean has been able to improve its sources of drinking water from
85% to 94% between the years 1990 and 2011.14 Moreover, member states have taken the topic
of allocating water to their own hands. New water laws have been adopted in Honduras,
Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, and Mexico.15 Some elements member states have focused
on include water efficiency in loss and sanitation, drinking water supply as a fight against
poverty, domestic wastewater treatment and recycling, unconventional water sources, and
climate change adaption and mitigation.16 A nonprofit organization known as Water.Org
currently assists Latin American countries such as Haiti, Honduras, Peru, El Salvador, and
7
http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_A-41_Charter_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.htm#ch4
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/03/22/world-water-day-latin-america-achievements-challenges
9
https://www.globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/global-public-goods-1-101/46052-the-struggle-for-latinamericas-water.html
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid.
13
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about/en/
14
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/waterandsustainabledevelopment2015/morning_regional_session_lac_15_0
1_2015.shtml
15
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/water_and_a_green_economy_in_lac_june_2012.pdf
16
Ibid.
8
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 4
Guatemala in helping build safe water systems and sanitation of water.17 With further education
on these programs and issues, OAS member states and its citizens can continue its efforts to
improve the allocation of water at a broader level. This topic is of great concern for the basic
human rights of the many unfortunate to not receive the sanitized water every living being
deserves.
C.
Committee: Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS)
Topic One: Hemispheric Standards on Surveillance and Information Gathering
The Republic of Honduras recognizes the OAS concern with surveillance and
information gathering issues within the Americas, recalling Article 3, Section J of the OAS
Charter: “social justice and social security are the bases of lasting peace.”18 Aware of the
ongoing issues such as drug distribution across borders, organized crime due to a lack of
surveillance, and potential cyber-attacks on member states, the Delegation of Honduras looks to
strengthen the protection of citizens’ basic human rights. Due to these prevalent issues, an
establishment of a program to increase border security, police strength, and cyber security is of
great importance to the body of OAS. This Delegation believes funds focusing on the
implementation of a program to end security threats in relation to border surveillance can help
prevent future threats ranging from gang violence to cyber-attacks.
Drug traffickers across the OAS rely mostly on exporting drugs and drug paraphernalia
across borders for profit. If drug traffickers were unable to sell at such a high cost to foreign
countries, a sustainable profit for lucrative entities could be prevented. The illegal drug
trafficking business ran by gang members is detrimental to all parties involved. Minors are often
forced to smuggle drugs across borders and threatened if resisting. Not only are these drugs sold
internationally and responsible for thousands of deaths yearly, but the safety of minors
threatened to smuggle drugs goes unprotected.19 In the Republic of Honduras, approximately 140
to 300 tons of cocaine cross the borders each year.20 In 2012, Copan and Ocotepeque, border
cities in Honduras, had a total homicide rate of 102 per 100,000 people.21 The presence of drug
traffickers on the borders increased crime at an alarming rate.22 In San Pedro Sula, a major city of
Honduras, there were 538 homicides between January and June, nearly all related to gang
violence or drugs.23 However, the profitability of drug distribution creates a desire to keep the
system in preservation.
In 2013, the OAS introduced the Inter-American Network for Police Development and
Professionalization (IAPDP) to work on modernizing police institutions and training combat
crime in more sophisticated ways. The program has proven to be successful in increasing police
presence in the Americas.24 In 2013, the first year of the program’s implementation, the murder
17
http://water.org/projects/
http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_A-41_Charter_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.htm
19
http://www.insightcrime.org/honduras-organized-crime-news/honduras
20
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/what-is-behind-violence-on-the-guatemala-honduras-border
21
http://www.insightcrime.org/honduras-organized-crime-news/honduras
22
http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/16/world/americas/san-pedro-sula-morgue/index.html
23
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/what-is-behind-violence-on-the-guatemala-honduras-border
24
http://fiiapp.org/en/noticias/la-ciberseguridad-y-la-trata-de-personas-son-debatidas-en-la-vii-reunion-de-ameripol/
18
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 5
rate decreased by 6.5 percent25. This program serves as a moral example of the importance of a
strong police force to combat drug crimes for the purpose of protecting human rights 6. Thus, to
implement a similar program for the OAS carries hope to create similar results, beginning with
border surveillance in regards to tackling the drug market and ending drug distribution. With this
security, the basic human rights of the OAS citizens are protected.
Topic Two: Updating the Rio Treaty to Meet New Hemispheric Security Challenges
The Republic of Honduras recognizes the OAS concern in updating the Inter-American
Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (The Rio Treaty) to meet new hemispheric security challenges.
The Delegation of Honduras supports the global importance of eliminating terrorism at both the
domestic and inter-continental levels due to the shared value of the OAS charter of Article 2.a,
which states “To strengthen the peace and security of the continent.”26 The Delegation looks
forward to doing so while recognizing the principles of Article 3.b, which states “ International
order consist essentially of respect for the personality, sovereignty, and independence of States,
and the faithful fulfillment of obligations derived from treaties and other sources of international
law.”27 The Delegation further considers the OAS member states enjoyment of exercising their
right to jurisdiction as stated in Article 16 of the OAS charter: “The jurisdiction of States within
the limits of their national territory is exercised equally over the inhabitants, whether nationals or
aliens.”28 With this in mind, he Delegation of Honduras proposes a few solutions to be made in
order to implement a new article into the Rio Treaty targeting anti-terrorism. Firstly, to combat
the influence of terrorism and potential nuclear threats over the OAS states. Secondly, to
encourage all current and former signatories, as well as new member states, to draft new
resolutions anticipated to resolve the issues of terrorist weapon development by implementing
elements of Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. These solutions are geared towards the protection of
human rights at nuclear-leveled threats.
Because nuclear energy has become a new and growing interest as purposeful power
supplies throughout world leading powers, the venture for renewable energy is not of a new
concern to the OAS member states. The threat of nuclear warfare has reached domestic terrorism
in neighboring states, plagued with threatening communication within drug cartels in many of
the member states’ streets.29 The Republic of Honduras is currently a major transit country for
cocaine and heroin used and manipulated by various gangs from its neighboring states.30 Since
discovery of an intended attack by Al-Qaeda on Latin soil, found by the Interior Ministry of
Honduras, Honduras has positioned for increased security in certain embassies to spread terrorist
prevention.31 Crime and terrorism in Honduras has caused 86 deaths per 100,000 residents in
25
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/17/us-honduras-homicides-idUSBREA1G1E520140217
http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_A-41_Charter_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.htm#ch7
27
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/honduras-travel-warning.html
28
https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17494
29
http://warontherocks.com/2014/07/terrorism-in-latin-america-infographic/
30
Sergio Ramos, “Central America: Organized crime costs Central America billions,” Infosurhoy, August 5, 2013.
31
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/world/americas/us-turns-its-focus-on-drug-smuggling-inhonduras.html?_r=0
26
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 6
Central America.32 These problems are related to the drug cartels carrying terrorism within their
organizations, the limitation of law enforcement capabilities, and a lack of cooperation within the
OAS member states to focus the assessment of future threats.
American Ambassador of Honduras, Lisa Kumbuski, described the Honduran armed
forces as “eager and capable partners in this joint effort plan to increase the national police force
by 10,000 officers.”33 All member states are encouraged to follow suit in expanding their police
force significantly so that the creation of a security network, as proposed by the new article of
the Rio Treaty, can function successfully. With cooperation, member states have the capability to
defuse the influence of terror for the fight of the basic human rights the citizens affected by this
violence deserve. The Delegation of Honduras moves to encourage all OAS member states to
adopt the new proposed article in the Rio Treaty to fight terrorism on a national and domestic
level and work towards disarmament of terrorist groups depleting criminal acts at the nuclear
level. This begins with drafting and resigning of the outdated treaty as a means to strengthen the
support each OAS member states has for each other.
D.
Committee: Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA)
Topic One: Protection of Political Refugees and Asylum Seekers
The Republic of Honduras believes it is essential to uphold the nature and purposes for
which our charter declares. The principles of strengthening the peace and security of the
continent and promoting democracy should be highlighted when dealing with the vast number of
migrants claiming to be refugees coming from Inter-American states. The Republic of Honduras
applauds all efforts of the Organization of American States (OAS) to further protect asylum
seekers and refugees. The topic of undocumented unaccompanied migrant children is one of
great contingency. A large number of the children in our member states are fleeing to borders
due to displacement caused by the war on drugs.34 Therefore, the state of Honduras finds it
imperative children have the same respects of human rights set and are dealt with the same
discretion as war refugees. The war on drugs still prevails in OAS member states and is the
fundamental root of the problems plaguing the Western Hemisphere.
As of January 2015, 14,306 former citizens of Honduras were granted refugee status in
other member states while 43 people were granted refugee status in the Republic of Honduras.35
In 2014, 14,000 unaccompanied migrant children originated from Honduras and were arrested at
the site of the border.36 Of this number of unaccompanied migrant children originating from
Central America, 58% of them claimed to be displaced due to violence indicating a need for
32
http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/NPT.shtml
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/honduras-travel-warnin.html
34
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/07/21/the-child-migrant-crisis-is-just-the-latestdisastrous-consequence-of-americas-drug-war/
35
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e492686.tml
36
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/06/13/honduran-president-says-us-to-blame-for-child-migrationcrisis/
33
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 7
international protection. The numbers do not adhere to transparent refugee statistics and may be
misrepresented.
The Republic of Honduras has adopted, with commendation, the productive solutions and
assistance by member states. This include the 1984 Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action, the
Cartagena +30, and the Mexico Plan of Action which act as instruments to expand and clarify the
definition and standards of refugees in pertinence to the Americas.37 Moreover, this Delegation
gives thanks to member states such as the United States of America who have enhanced their
international economic accountability to the plaguing problem.38
As President Juan Orlando Hernández has said, child migrants must be dealt with in a
joint-effort.39 The Republic of Honduras has worked relentlessly on the issue of child migration
as a security concern stemming from transnational organized drug trafficking which force
children to seek asylum.40 President Hernández suggests this matter be dealt with a humanitarian
approach.41
The Delegation of Honduras encourages all member states to recognize the factors
causing the rampant numbers of refugees coming from Central America. This Delegation further
calls on member states to consider and weigh the solutions and steps possible to reunite families
and decrease the numbers of undocumented migrant children while further promoting the quality
of the safety and security in the Americas. Lastly, the Republic of Honduras urges all OAS
member states to work with a fixed and steady determination to find the best solution for this
problem for the advancement of the future of the Americas and the protection of human rights
for its citizens.
Topic Two: Establishing Hemispheric Standards for Prisoner Rights and Prison
Conditions
The Republic of Honduras acknowledges Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
of the OAS and its efforts to “promote the observance and protection of human rights and to
serve as a consultative organ of the Organization in these matters.” The Republic of Honduras
currently faces tough human rights violations in the context of prison rights and conditions. With
the influence of the OAS to bring this matter to the attention of the member states, the Republic
of Honduras believes effective solutions can be drawn out more promptly. With the severity of
this problem being of a broad concern, direct efforts are ideal for the purpose of preserving the
fundamental human rights of these prisoners.
In 2012, the Republic of Honduras faced a deadly fire in the prison of Comayagua.
Trapped in their cells, the fire killed over 300 inmates.42 This event represented not only how
overcrowded the prison was, but poor infrastructure of the facility and lack of sufficient training
37
http://www.acnur.org/cartagena30/en/background-and-challenges/
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/07/24/94396/the-surge-of-unaccompaniedchildren-from-central-america-root-causes-and-policy-solutions/
39
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marco-caceres/child-migrants-from-centr_b_5509861.html
40
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marco-caceres/child-migrants-from-centr_b_5509861.html
41
http://www.aflcio.org/content/download/147761/3770791/file/Honduras.PDF
42
http://www.wola.org/commentary/prison_reform_in_latin_america_a_costa_rican_perspective
38
The Republic of Honduras
Texas State University
Page 8
of prison staff members in response to the crisis.43 Overcrowding in Latin American prisons is of
a major concern due to harsh drug and anti-gang laws, specifically in the case of El Salvador
where the number of people exceeds the capacity of the prison by over 320 percent.44 Violence is
additionally represented in the case of Brazil where the country’s most powerful gang, the
Primeiro Cornando da Capital, coordinated riots in the 73 of the state’s 144 prisons, ordering
bank robberies and burning down buses in mayhem, killing most commonly the police force.45 In
the example of the prisons in Canada, inmate assaults and fights, use of force incidents, serious
bodily injury, involuntary transfers, and reports of self-injury have all increased within the last
five years.”
According to the report made by Business Insider, Latin America holds 35 out of the 50
most violent cities, making murder more common in Latin American than any other part of the
world in the year 2014.46 San Pedro Sula, a city in Honduras, was ranked first for its average of
187 homicides per 100,000 residents followed by other cities of the OAS. Such statistics should
frightened the future of the OAS as it seeks to better the conditions for its citizens and protect the
fundamental human rights of its people.
The Delegation of Honduras recognizes the actions of the Latin American countries have
not gone unheard. In 2003, the Dominican Republic began its prison reform by recruiting civilian
staff members, with no affiliations with the army or police, who undergo a yearlong training at a
college in the country.47 In 2009, Costa Rica had its lowest homicide rate, 11.6 per 100,000
people, and have stride for less crowded prisons with more rehabilitation-orientated standards.48
Chile has reformed its prisons by building four new prisons, recruiting more prison warders,
segregating prisoners by the severity of their offence, and cutting prison demand by requiring
community service by the offenders instead of jail time.49 Brazil attempted to lower its number
of prisoners by examining old cases and ordering community service to less offences.50
Argentina, in the year 1996, established a system of judicial monitoring of prison conditions and
the treatment of prisoners.51 Lastly, in the United States, the state of New York has dramatically
reduced its state-prison population by judging each case with less merit in mind for relatively
minor offenses.52 These actions have reflected the interests of the OAS member states to better
prison rights and conditions and represent hopeful possibilities for the future of this topic and for
the future of emphasizing fundamental human rights.
43
Ibid.
Ibid.
45
http://www.economist.com/node/21563288
46
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-violent-cities-in-the-world-2014-11?op=1
47
http://www.economist.com/node/21563288
48
http://www.wola.org/commentary/prison_reform_in_latin_america_a_costa_rican_perspective
49
Ibid.
50
Ibid.
51
http://www.hrw.org/legacy/advocacy/prisons/americas2.htm#Argentina
52
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21654619-how-make-americas-penal-system-less-punitive-and-moreeffective-jailhouse-nation
44