Press release from Casa Alianza Honduras to the International Community

PRESS RELEASE

FROM    Casa Alianza de Honduras

TO          The National and International community:

Casa Alianza Honduras today supports the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its condemnation on the prosecution of 3 University students, Moisés David Cáceres Velásquez, Sergio Luís Ulloa Rivera and Cesario Alejandro Félix Padilla, by the Fourth Chamber of the Sentencing Court of Tegucigalpa.

Casa Alianza Honduras, like the OHCHR & OACNUDH, regrets and denounces the criminalization of social protest, which in this case has led to the conviction of three university students for expressing their rights.

A situation that currently allows, and will allow in the future, the ability to persecute human rights defenders, social and indigenous leaders if they comment on or complain about Their rights and those of their people.

PRONUNCIATION

OACNUDH Honduras is alarmed by the breach of commitment by authorities of the UNAH that generated condemnation of students.

TEGUCIGALPA, June 8, 2017 – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Honduras is alarmed by the conviction issued on June 7 by the Fourth Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice against Moses David Cáceres Velásquez, Sergio Luís Ulloa Rivera and Cesario Alejandro Félix Padilla, students of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).

The Office expresses its serious concern about the conviction issued for the crime of usurpation, considering that on several occasions, the Office has publicly pointed out (and in our dialogue with judicial operators) that criminalising protest in this way is in breach of International Human rights standards.