Hedme Castro

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2018-045-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2018
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 15.199999

Longitude: -86.241905

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Honduras
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
Dates of prior UN action
7 June 2017
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Female
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

Asociación para una Ciudanía Participativa (ACI- PARTICIPA); demonstration by members of a company that operates in a region where ACI- PARTICIPA is helping the local indigenous community who are opposing actions by the company.

Type of rights defended
  • Indigenous peoples’ rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

Attempting to fly to Geneva for a HRC side event

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Human Rights Council - General
Dates of engagement
2 March 2017
Type of attempted engagement
  • Participation in meeting on UN premises
Dates of mentioned reprisals
2 March 2017; 21 April 2017; 1 May 2017
Location of mentioned reprisals
Tegucigalpa
Reprisal information

death threats, attacks and reprisals against Ms. Hedme Castro (HND 3/2017), of the Asociación para una Ciudanía Participativa (ACI- PARTICIPA). The allegations related to surveillance and interference with her online correspondence, and her being held on 2 March 2017 at Toncontin international airport in Tegucigalpa, which prevented her from being able to board a plane to Geneva for a Human Rights Council side-event. Airport security allegedly conducted a “random” inspection of her luggage and interrogated her as to the purpose of her visit to Geneva, as well as to why she was carrying information regarding the situation of human rights in the country. 46. On 21 April 2017, a car without plates and with tinted windows was allegedly parked outside the office of ACI-PARTICIPA. On 1 May 2017, Ms. Castro and other members of ACI-PARTICIPA were reported to have been verbally and physically attacked during a demonstration by members of a company that operates in a region where ACI- PARTICIPA is helping the local indigenous community who are opposing actions by the company.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Physical attack: Physical attack - General
  • Surveillance
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
  • Travel restriction
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
Yes
Government response dates
29 June 2017
Government response content

noting that no request was found by the Department of Human Rights in the Ministry of Security to implement protection measures for Ms. Castro or other members of ACI-PARTICIPA, but the Human Rights Defenders section, Special Attorney for Human Rights is investigating her and others’ concerns regarding the airport security forces. The Government said it was impossible to contact Ms. Castro because she had left the country, therefore no risk assessment could be made on her behalf.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
2
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2019
Follow up information provided in SG report 0

The case of Ms. Hedme Castro, from ACI-PARTICIPA, was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, para. 44 and Annex I, paras. 45–47). According to new information received, on 6 April 2019, a member of the national police launched tear gas at individuals connected to ACI-PARTICIPA and relatives of Ms. Castro in the city of Choluteca. On 16 May 2019, four special procedures mandate holders addressed these allegations, expressing serious concerns about the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Castro and her relatives (HND 2/ 2019). On 17 July 2019, the Government responded 135 on the protection measures taken for Ms. Castro. In April 2017, the case was admitted to the national protection mechanism and a risk assessment was initiated for Ms. Castro and ACI-PARTICIPA. According to the Government, the assessment was not completed due to the lack of availability of Ms. Castro. The protection mechanism has followed up on the complaint affecting Ms. Castro’s relatives.

Followup Trends 0
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 0
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 0
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
2020
Follow up information provided in SG report 1

The case of Ms. Hedme Castro, from ACI-PARTICIPA, and her relatives, was included in the 2019 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 53; A/HRC/39/41, para. 44 and Annex I, paras. 45–47) on allegations of stigmatization, surveillance, threats and attacks for her cooperation with the Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Council (HND 2/2019). 66. In July 2019 the Government 47 noted that in April 2017, the case had been admitted to the National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Media Workers and Justice System Actors, and a risk assessment was initiated for Ms. Castro and ACI-PARTICIPA; on 21 October 2019, it concluded that Ms. Castro was at serious risk. 67. According to information received by OHCHR, incidents of surveillance, harassment and threats have continued during the reporting period. On 19 July 2019, OHCHR participated in a meeting with Ms. Castro and the Director of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Media Workers and Justice System Actors to support her request for emergency protection measures. On 1 August 2019, Ms. Castro filed a complaint to the Office of the Prosecutor for incidents of police surveillance and harassment, to which there has been no response. The situation has obstructed Ms. Castro’s human rights work and is severely affecting the well-being of her close relatives and co-workers.

Followup Trends 1
Stayed same
Did the government respond? 1
No