Landmark election must end murder spree of women sweeping Honduras
Landmark election must end murder spree of women sweeping Honduras
22nd Nov 2013
Election year in Honduras is likely to be the worst ever for the murder of woman following an eight per cent increase in the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period last year said international agency Oxfam today. The figures on women's murder come for a recent study by the Violence Observatory National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).
Oxfam joined Honduran campaigners and women's groups to warn that the rise in violence against women will continue to escalate unless the new government takes radical steps to stem the epidemic. Honduras has one of the highest femicide rates in the world with an increase of 258 percent between 2002 and 2012.
"The women of Honduras should enjoy the same rights and protection under the law as men. By far the most urgent task for whoever wins power in Honduras is to end the murder spree against women," said Oxfam's George Redman, Oxfam's country director in Honduras. "Last year a woman was killed every 15 hours but fewer than two per cent of cases were investigated. Impunity for violence against women has to end - the new government must commit to an immediate overhaul of the justice system."
As the Central American country gets ready to vote in the first election since the coup in 2009, campaigners are warning that the rise in violence against women will continue to escalate unless the government takes radical steps to stem the epidemic.
More:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2013/11/landmark-election-must-end-murder-spree-of-women-sweeping-honduras
