Breaking the Cycle: Violence Against Indigenous Women in Honduras

Introduction

Honduras faces a serious issue with violence against women, having some of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with years of socio-political instability, have all contributed to the recent widespread domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, particularly against Indigenous women. Moreover, women's rights and safety continue to be undermined by a culture of machismo and impunity despite the efforts of international initiatives and advocacy groups.

Violence Against Women in Honduras 

In Honduras, 35% of women experience domestic violence, with 10-15% facing sexual violence. Women and girls in Honduras had already experienced disproportionate violence prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the destructive 2022 hurricane season. However, their susceptibility to violence, exploitation, and human trafficking increased as a result of the pandemic and the ensuing poverty. In 2021, over 240 women were victims of femicide, marking the highest rate in Latin America, and public records indicate that 309 women were killed in 2022. 

The pandemic further exacerbated violence, with movement restrictions and non-functioning institutions preventing victims from seeking help or justice, and several sexual offenses remained unpunished. Women who demonstrated in the streets for food and aid during the pandemic were met with violence, especially rural and Indigenous women living in remote areas. Women and children are impacted by this continual cycle of violence, which erodes their sense of dignity and normalizes violent behavior as something that must be tolerated.

Violence Against Indigenous Women 

Indigenous women in Latin America frequently suffer from rape, murder, and kidnapping because of sexual violence used to subjugate entire communities. These crimes not only harm the victims as individual women, but they also fuel a wider societal breakdown among Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, inadequate investigations into grievances from these communities exacerbate the problem by creating a culture of impunity.

Experiences of violence vary based on region, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and race. In Honduras, the main Indigenous and minority communities are the Lenca, Garifuna, Maya Ch'ortí, Tolupán, and Pech, as well as others. According to the National Survey Specialized in Violence Against Women and Girls in Honduras, 51.3% of Indigenous women and 45.7% of rural women have experienced violence at some point in their lives in the country. Unlike their white counterparts, who are more likely to have access to shelters or family support, Indigenous women living in remote areas frequently lack safe spaces to talk about their experiences as survivors. This highlights how women living in impoverished communities are disadvantaged and subjected to various forms of societal violence. In particular, Honduran women of Indigenous and Afro-American descent in rural areas are at high risk of discrimination and violence. Additionally, Garifuna women face high rates of HIV and land displacement, while rural women, including the Lenca, also face similar challenges.

The U.S. embassy in Honduras claims that women who identify as Indigenous or Afro-descendant experience disproportionate discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services, which increases their susceptibility to gender-based violence. These instances demonstrate how women of color and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds not only experience more suffering but also have fewer opportunities for survival. For many, the oppression that comes with domestic abuse makes it much more intolerable. 

Forms of Violence 

There have been reports of Indigenous women and children being trafficked and forced into prostitution by organized crime groups operating in the vicinity of Indigenous territories. The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Ethnic Groups and Cultural Heritage has received numerous complaints concerning assaults, attempted murders, and violence against Indigenous women, in addition to the killings of Indigenous land defenders. These complaints mainly came from the Tolupán, Garifuna, Lenca, Chortí, and Pech communities.

Additionally, justice for murdered Honduran activists is rare, with impunity rates as high as 90% for crimes against human rights activists and 96% for the killing of land defenders. One exception is Berta Cáceres, a prominent Indigenous Lenca and environmental activist, who was murdered in 2016. Her case is notable because, likely due to international pressure, a senior executive was found guilty of her murder. Nonetheless, numerous other activists, such as Garifuna activist Laura Carolina Valentín Dolomo and Tolupán leader Maria Enriqueta Matute, have been killed without receiving justice. 

In 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the violence and murders targeting Garifuna women in Honduras due to their gender and ethno-racial background. That September, four Garifuna women were reported murdered: Mirna Teresa Suazo Martínez, leader of the Masca community; Gilma Cacho and her daughter Fiori Amaya from Santa Rosa de Aguán; and Nayda Reyez Jiménez from Bajamar. Furthermore, in January of that year, Belkis García was found murdered in the Garifuna community of Sambo Creek, with signs of sexual assault.

Lilian Gomez Orellana, a mother and farmer living with her daughters and grandchildren on their coffee farm, reflects on her experience with domestic violence; “I suffered abuse, pushing, and when I was very tired, he would force me to have sex, maybe because of his machismo. He said I was his wife and had to comply with whatever he said.” The violence against Honduran Indigenous women reflects deep systemic issues, including political instability, social inequality, and cultural challenges that hinder justice and protection for these communities.

Root Causes and Challenges 

In a journal article titled “Poverty reduction, political violence and women’s rights in Honduras”, Katherine Ronderos argues that the 2009 military coup of Honduras that ousted President Manuel Zelaya had a significant negative impact on women's rights and social development. Ronderos says that Zelaya had introduced policies that benefited poor women, including wage increases, free education, and expanded healthcare. Women's groups strongly supported his proposal for constitutional reforms that sought to address gender inequality. However, the coup halted these efforts, leading to significant setbacks for women’s rights. Many women lost their jobs as legal protections were revoked, including access to emergency contraception. Since the coup, women's circumstances have gotten worse, with rising rates of violence in public and private settings limiting their access to possibilities for employment and education. Despite initiatives like the PIEGH, which prioritized ending violence against women, gender issues in Honduras have been frequently disregarded in national social and economic policies. 

Indigenous communities also frequently lack safe spaces for women to discuss their experiences with violence. In rural, remote communities, women find it particularly challenging to safely address gender issues like domestic abuse and sexual assault. This is often due to a culture of machismo, which can greatly discourage women from gathering or organizing to speak out against injustice. Moreover, the absence of men in these talks is indicative of a traditional community that is resistant to change. Thus, men are essential to addressing violence, as the culture of machismo and male dominance perpetuates abuse. 

When violence is left unchecked, it creates a vicious cycle passed down through generations, devastating the lives of women and children and normalizing violent behavior within communities. To address this issue, various organizations and initiatives have brought this issue to light to find solutions.

Initiatives

One such example that aims to address violence against women is the IJM (International Justice Mission). The IJM launched a project in Honduras where it collaborates with the Public Justice System to safeguard women and children. The IJM and CDH (Center for Human Development) are also running the Community Network, a program that equips women to support survivors of violence.

In another example, the Centro de Estudios de la Mujer-Honduras (CEM-H) started a project in 2022 with support from the UN Trust Fund's Spotlight Initiative to stop violence against women and girls in Francisco Morazán and Intibucá's rural and urban areas. CEM-H works in collaboration with CARE Honduras and Plataforma 25 de Noviembre to support networks and organizations that develop strategies for combating gender-based violence. CEM-H modified its strategy in response to COVID-19 by providing training to young women, creating resources for educators to stop violence in the classroom, and spearheading campaigns against femicide. Unfortunately, funding remains a challenge.

A third example would be where the IHSLAC Project, PAHO, and Canada are working with local governments and health professionals to empower women and prevent domestic violence, particularly in Yamaranguila, home to a significant population of Lenca Indigenous communities. Since many women remain silent about their abuse, the project promotes open communication by including talks on domestic violence alongside more general health issues at community meetings. The goal is to reduce violence and support women's empowerment.

Lastly, the Honduran Filmmakers Collective and the Spotlight Initiative are collaborating in Honduras to promote the work of marginalized female filmmakers with an emphasis on ending violence against women and girls. The short film Cadenas (Chains), directed by Indigenous filmmaker Karla Díaz, tackles issues of physical violence against Indigenous women. Díaz highlights that in addition to Indigenous women experiencing violence in a variety of ways, it is also leading to a loss of their ancestral customs and knowledge.

Conclusion

The alarmingly high rates of violence against women in Honduras, especially among the country's Indigenous populations, reflect structural problems with discrimination, poverty, and gender inequality. Significant barriers to effective progress in the fight against gender-based violence due to the culture of machismo and impunity hinder significant progress in addressing gender-based violence. Indigenous women in rural areas continue to experience disproportionately high rates of violence, which is made worse by their limited access to resources and support. Despite some initiatives that have raised awareness and provided support, there are still systematic barriers that bolster cycles of violence and inequality. The current situation for Indigenous women in Honduras is intricately linked to broader socio-political conditions, having a long-lasting effect on both people and communities alike.

Image Credits: International Justice Mission | Edited by GorStra Team