PGA celebrates the ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) on the responsibility of the State of Honduras for the 2009 murder of transgender woman and activist, Vicky Hernandez. This is the first time that the highest regional human rights court, based in Costa Rica, has held a State accountable for the death - and failure to prosecute those responsible for the death - of a trans individual. In its June 28, 2021 ruling, the Court ordered that Honduras pays reparations to Hernandez’s family and implements a variety of measures that would protect trans people. Some of those measures include starting anti-discrimination training for military and security forces, as well as collect data on incidents of violence against LGBTI+ communities.
Hernandez, a trans woman, activist and sex worker, was shot and killed during the first night of the coup d’état in June of 2009 in which the Honduran military ousted President Manuel Zelaya and enforced nighttime curfews across the country. While the curfews were brought about to try and curb the demonstrations, they were also used to target LGBTI+ people. Hernandez was last seen fleeing from a police car on the streets, alongside two other sex workers. She was found dead the next day. Police failed to investigate the murder and claimed it was a “crime of passion.” However, the Inter-American court ruling required Honduras to restart the investigation and found “several indications of the participation state agents.”
As part of our actions to advance the human rights and inclusion of LGBTI+ people around the world through our Campaign against Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI Campaign), PGA submitted an Amicus Brief in support of the litigation and the application of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belém do Pará Convention) in the murder of Vicky Hernandez.
The ruling in Vicky Hernandez’s case is a wake-up call for the state of Honduras and a call to action. Honduras has an obligation to become a place where people can live and work without worrying about any kind of discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This ruling also orders the state of Honduras, through the national Congress, to make reforms in the law so that trans people can make the corresponding changes in their National Identity Card in order to have their identity recognized. As a Congressman, I am committed to promote these reforms in order to turn Honduras into a country with more rights for allPGA Board Member Dip. Jorge Cálix, Honduras
PGA is working with local civil society and national legislators in Honduras, including Dip. Cálix, to advance laws that promote equality for all vulnerable populations, protect the lives of LGBTI+ people and combat discrimination. We commend the IACHR on their momentous ruling for equality and justice in Honduras and hope it encourages discussions that lead to a more inclusive society.
