Following Dec agreements resulting from UN-led dialogue, parties began to discuss and approve reforms. Member of Congress 12 Feb proposed Electoral Procedural law to regulate operations of Electoral Supreme Court. Liberal Party 24 Jan proposed bill that would use plebiscites to decide on issues such as presidential re-election and electoral second round if parties cannot reach agreement. Political tensions remained high following late-Jan protests demanding President Hernández’s resignation; NGO 19 Feb reported 171 protesters detained in aftermath of Hernández’s election in 2017 have been prosecuted so far. Hernández 12 Feb claimed govt is liberating Honduras from gangs, with no homicides reported in 177 out of 298 municipalities in 2019. However, Church 7 Feb expressed concern over rise of femicides with some 40 murders of women 1 Jan-7 Feb; human rights commissioner 15 Feb stated 90% of cases go unpunished. Hondurans continued to set off in “caravans” attempting to reach U.S. border, with 200 people leaving San Pedro Sula (north) 8 Feb; officials 7 Feb reported 4,610 Hondurans deported from Mexico and U.S. in Jan.

Following end of UN-led National Dialogue process in Dec, Congress 11 Jan began debates on electoral reform and 25 Jan approved measures including creation and composition of Electoral Supreme Court; reformation of National Registry and establishment of second round for future elections. Political tensions high around 26 Jan anniversary of President Hernández’s swearing-in ceremony; new opposition platform Citizen Action Against Dictatorships 20-26 Jan held protests in fourteen departments to demand Hernández’s resignation, and in several cases were met by police repression. Eight mass killings 1-14 Jan left some 30 people dead across country, including in capital Tegucigalpa (centre) and Cortés and Yoro departments (north). Migrant “caravans” continued to set off on attempts to reach U.S. border, despite new U.S. legislation requiring asylum seekers wait in Mexico during processing of their applications; in apparent move to appease U.S., govt 2 Jan agreed to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

UN-led National Dialogue process resumed 11 Dec, with ruling-National Party, opposition Liberal Party and representatives of former presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla reaching over 70 agreements regarding human rights, electoral reforms and accountability, among others; no consensus on amnesty for detainees from 2017 post-election protests or on referendum to approve presidential re-election. Political tension remained high following descent into violence of 27 Nov anti-govt march in capital as police fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters marching on anniversary of 2017 election; masked protesters 6 Dec burned several buses in Tegucigalpa. Thousands of mostly Honduran migrants continued to wait at U.S-Mexico border to request asylum in U.S.; two Honduran teenagers reportedly murdered in Tijuana, Mexico 15 Dec. U.S. and Mexico 19 Dec announced $5.8bn in U.S. aid for Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and $4.8bn for Mexico to stem illegal migration. Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador 1 Dec signed agreement for major development plan for Central America and southern Mexico aimed at slowing migration.Seven men found guilty 7 Dec of murdering environmentalist Berta Cáceres in 2016, in trial severely criticised by many human rights groups for lack of due process. U.S. President Trump 28 Dec threatened to cut “all aid” to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras unless they do more to stop migration.

UN-backed political dialogue between govt and opposition entered new phase as working groups resumed 26 Nov, focused on human rights, electoral process, constitutional reform and institutional strengthening; UN coordinator 17 Nov gave positive assessment of last two months of dialogue saying some agreements had been made on electoral reform and human rights. Following migrant “caravan” headed to U.S. in Oct, govt 19 Nov announced 7,000 migrants had returned voluntarily since 23 Oct launch of its $25mn plan to return migrants safely and provide temporary employment (although unclear how many were part of “caravan”).  Despite overall reduction in homicide rate, spate of killings 18 Nov saw fifteen murders in cities La Ceiba and El Progreso (north). Month saw important developments in fight against corruption as Organization of American States (OAS)-backed Mission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) and Attorney General (AG) 5 Nov charged officials in former President Lobo’s administration with fraud and embezzlement; AG 8 Nov launched nationwide operation against corruption in local govt and health institutions, leading to 377 arrests. Former lawmaker ‘Tony’ Hernández, brother of President Hernández, was arrested in Miami airport 23 Nov accused of drug-trafficking.

Mass “migrant caravan” attempting to reach U.S. created country’s worst crisis since disputed Nov 2017 elections, while late Sept collapse of UN-led talks between President Hernández’s govt and opposition on post-Nov 2017 electoral crisis, and increasing tensions in congress, reduced potential space to resolve crisis. Caravan began as call on social media for low-income Hondurans to travel to U.S. in large groups to avoid dangers of migrant route, prompting some 200 people to depart from city San Pedro Sula (west) 12 Oct; group grew to several thousands as it passed through poor and crime-affected villages. After crossing Guatemala, 5,000-strong group, estimated by NGOs to be 35% children, reached Mexican border 19 Oct, where they clashed with Mexican security forces. 26-year old Honduran migrant was killed 28 Oct by Mexican police. In response, and with more groups expected to join “caravan” movement from neighbouring countries like El Salvador (where new group of 150 people departed 29 Oct), U.S. threatened to cut all bilateral aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, while opposition parties called for Hernández’s resignation and early elections. Response to crisis impeded by ongoing political deadlock and tensions in congress between Liberal Party and ruling National Party following accusations in Sept that latter had hired gang members during elections.

UN-backed political dialogue between govt and opposition which began 28 Aug continued but made little progress; main opposition group left-wing Libre party remained absent while President Hernández govt maintained scepticism toward talks, which cover four themes: events of 2017 election, human rights, constitutional reforms/rule of law, and electoral reforms. Political tension remained high; police and protesters clashed during anti-govt march in capital Tegucigalpa (centre) 15 Sept. Liberal Party left dialogue table 26 Sept citing govt’s lack of commitment to democratic reforms. As part of “Pandora Case” investigation into diversion of $11.7mn of public funds to finance election campaigns, attorney general (AG) late Aug ordered seizure of assets of members of ruling National Party and centre-left Liberal party and issued search warrants for parties’ headquarters. In new security operations, recently-created Anti-Maras Unit arrested at least 50 alleged gang leaders 3 and 8 Sept. Autonomous University of Honduras 9 Sept reported 108 people killed in 33 massacres Jan-Aug 2018, predominately in Francisco Morazán, Cortés and Olancho departments in centre and north west, representing increase in number of mass killings although homicide rate has fallen.

UN-backed political dialogue between govt and opposition, led by four mediators from region, began 28 Aug, aimed at finding solution to post-electoral crisis following Nov 2017 general election. Party representatives to discuss four main issues: presidential re-election, human rights, constitutional reform, and electoral reform. Following two-month delay, President Hernández 13 Aug finally issued executive order stating govt’s commitment to participate in dialogue. Talks remained tense with lack of confidence in process on all sides; main opposition group left-wing Libre party still absent. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 2 Aug completed trip investigating human rights situation and researching 2017 post-election violence.

With UN-backed dialogue between govt and opposition groups stalled, President Hernández 11 July questioned lack of results. UN office in capital Tegucigalpa 16 July approved four Latin American mediators to lead thematic working groups on human rights, electoral process, constitutional reform and institutional strengthening; main opposition group Libre remained absent from dialogue. Judge 21 July ordered arrest of 38 lawmakers, officials and individuals for allegedly diverting over $11.7mn of public funds to finance 2013 election campaign. Govt 3 July announced U.S. and Mexico had deported 36,500 Hondurans in first six months of 2018, 55.6% increase on previous year. FM 10-11 July attended Northern Triangle of Central America and Mexico (Tricamex) meeting to address migration crisis and regional security (see Guatemala).

Dialogue to promote political consensus between ruling National Party and opposition saw continued disagreement over composition of commission to investigate human rights abuses during late 2017 post-electoral crisis. Amnesty International 13 June published report documenting security forces’ “excessive force” during 2017 demonstrations. Organization of American States (OAS) 18 June announced appointment of Luiz Antonio Guimarães Marrey as chief for Mission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH); govt had rejected Marrey but bowed under reported U.S. pressure. Following demands from President Hernández’s allies in National Congress to declare MACCIH unconstitutional, Supreme Court sentence 30 May limited the anti-corruption mission’s investigative capacities. UN special rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers 18 June denounced selection process of Honduras’s next attorney general (AG) as “extremely concerning” amid worries over absence of independent observers and civil society from process; legislators 29 June re-elected AG Óscar Chinchilla for second term. MACCIH filed new corruption cases: 13 June accused 38 politicians and citizens of diverting $11.7mn of govt funds to political parties, including Hernández’s 2013 presidential campaign.

Ruling National Party, Liberal Party and former opposition alliance presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla 14 May joined UN-backed dialogue to continue discussing human rights and legal reforms that would prevent recurrence of political crisis similar to late 2017 post-election crisis. Earlier, Nasralla 11 May resigned from main opposition group Opposition Alliance against Dictatorship, which did not attend meeting, raising doubts over prospect of fruitful dialogue. National Party continued to push for conservative social agenda and militarised security policy during month, including discussions in Congress of mandatory Bible readings in schools and compulsory military service as “violence prevention” measures. UN special rapporteur on situation of human rights defenders, Michael Frost, following mid-May visit highlighted setbacks in anti-corruption campaign and lack of protection for human rights defenders. Govt rejected Organization of American States (OAS)’s April appointment of Luiz Antonio Guimarães Marrey as chief for Mission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), requested second option. Rose Elena de Lobo, wife of former president, acquitted on embezzlement charges in another perceived setback for MACCIH. U.S. govt 4 May announced termination of Temporary Protected Status for around 57,000 Hondurans; deportations, up 25% in 2018 compared to 2017, likely to increase further.