"As members of an international congregation, we recognize our obligation and opportunities to develop a world vision
and a sense of global responsibility."
- You Are Sent, Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
Senator Jeff Merkley has introduced a bill to suspend U.S. support for the government of Honduras until the widespread corruption and human rights violations cease. The bill, the Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021, presents an opportunity for the U.S. to help address some of the root causes of instability and violence in the region.
Honduras has been plagued by endemic corruption and rights violations since the 2009 military coup. Over the last decade, ever-increasing levels of militarization and the steady weakening of oversight mechanisms and constitutional guarantees have been coupled with systemic corruption in the government and the collapse of the rule of law. Honduras has become, in effect, a narco-state and the most dangerous country in the world in which to defend human rights. Civil society members are criminalized, attacked, disappeared and murdered in overwhelming numbers. U.S. policy has helped fueled these dynamics, celebrating the Honduran government as a great partner and pouring support to its repressive military and police forces.
Our Sister Rosa Maria Trochez, SSND, from Honduras, has reminded the U.S. government previously that "In order to have peace you must have food, housing and basic human conditions. We know that it is a long process. But we want the world to know that the money that goes to Honduras isn’t getting to the people.”
Please urge your senators to sign on as co-sponsors of Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021, so that the people of Honduras might begin to build peace.
Let your voice be heard - click here to take action today!
https://ssnd.org/shalom/called-act/advocacy/?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f81677%2frespond