Outcome HND_D_3.1

The State and the Honduran population reduce the violence and conflict that affects them, with particular attention to violence against women and youth.

Although limited progress was observed at the national level in preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls during the reporting period, relevant changes were documented at local and institutional levels that contribute to strengthening prevention and response capacities. At the national level, and in the absence of legislative approval during the reporting period, UN Women contributed to strengthening the technical basis for future legislative action on violence against women. In particular, UN Women supported the development of a financial impact analysis for the proposed Purple Alert Law for the Immediate Search of Missing Women. This analysis addressed one of the key institutional requirements for legislative consideration, providing cost estimates and feasibility considerations to inform parliamentary discussion and potential implementation. At the municipal level, and with technical support from UN Women, the Association of Municipalities of Honduras (AMHON) developed a locally owned primary prevention strategy to address violence against women, including political violence, across 12 municipalities in northern and western Honduras. This process was implemented also in close coordination with the Secretariat of Women’s Affairs, and AMHON ensured alignment with municipal governance frameworks. The strategy is tailored to local contexts, embedded in municipal planning processes, and fully owned by local governments, with a clear implementation pathway in 2026. Within the electoral system, the National Electoral Council adopted a Protocol against Gender-Based Political Violence, establishing procedures for the registration, guidance and referral of cases affecting women in politics. In the absence of a national legal framework, the protocol represents an institutional advance in recognising and addressing political violence against women during the electoral cycle. However, its scope remains limited due to the lack of sanctioning mechanisms and publicly available data on reported cases. In the justice sector, the Judiciary, through its Gender Unit, developed a preliminary diagnosis for the construction of an Institutional Gender Policy. In parallel, regional roundtables bringing together judges and civil society actors were established to strengthen capacities on gender equality and women’s rights. These spaces contributed to improved dialogue and awareness within the justice system, although their impact on judicial practices and case outcomes remains to be assessed. Overall, these actions contributed to incremental improvements in institutional readiness, coordination and normative frameworks at subnational and sectoral levels. However, persistent structural gaps, including the absence of comprehensive national legislation, limited enforcement mechanisms and reduced funding for civil society and international cooperation, continue to constrain the State’s ability to prevent and respond effectively to violence against women and girls. Sources: Asociación de Municipios de Honduras (AMHON). 2025. Estrategia municipal para la prevención de la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas . Tegucigalpa: AMHON. (Documento institucional elaborado con apoyo de ONU Mujeres). Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE). 2025. Protocolo para la prevención y atención de la violencia política contra las mujeres en el proceso electoral general 2025 . Tegucigalpa: CNE. ONU Mujeres. 2025. Análisis de impacto financiero del Proyecto de Ley de Alerta Morada para la Búsqueda Inmediata de Mujeres Desaparecidas . Tegucigalpa: ONU Mujeres. (Estudio técnico de apoyo al proceso legislativo). Poder Judicial de Honduras. 2025. Diagnóstico preliminar para la construcción de la Política Institucional de Género del Poder Judicial . Tegucigalpa: Poder Judicial de Honduras, Unidad de Género .

The State and the Honduran population reduce the violence and conflict that affects them, with particular attention to violence against women and youth.

Although the level of impact described has not been reached, 2022 was a year to look at tangible results from the work carried out by UN Women through the Spotlight Initiative to prevent and respond to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Honduras. At the national level, the new Equity and Equality Plan was developed under the leadership of the Secretariat for Women's Affairs. The plan constitutes the policy that governs the obligations of all government institutions in the area of gender equality. UN Women supported the socialization of the plan with civil society and government actors at the local level, and participated in its participatory validation. At the legislative level, a draft law proposal has been prepared to prevent the disappearance of girls, adolescents and women, guaranteeing their protection, protection and well-being. The law known as Purple Alert, was developed through a highly participatory process in which justice operators and women's and feminist organizations, as well as government officials, members of the Inter-Institutional Commission for Monitoring the Investigations of Violent Deaths of Women and Femicides (CISIMVMF), contributed to the elaboration and validation. The Purple Alert includes replicable processes identified in the Knowledge and Learning Mission carried out at the end of August in the State of Mexico, in which 15 people from the CISIMVMF participated. UN Women coordinated the process of drafting and socializing the proposed law, as well as the exchange of experiences with Mexico. Civil society has improved coordination mechanisms to design innovative and comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Initiative has contributed to promoting processes for the exchange of experiences and systematization of good practices among civil society organizations for their replication. On the other hand, it has contributed to knowledge management through the preparation of strategic studies such as the Study of Social and Institutional Tolerance towards Violence Against Women and Girls, which provides evidence-based arguments for intervention in favor of changing social norms that favor violence against women and girls. Another great achievement was the mobilization of a new project with the INL for 3 million dollars, for a period of 3 years, that will allow to focus efforts in 3 of the 5 municipalities where Spotlight was implemented with two key components: prevention and response to VAWG.

The State and the Honduran population reduce the violence and conflict that affects them, with particular attention to violence against women and youth.

At the national level, the Honduran government took measures to reduce violence against women and girls: an emergency was declared at the beginning of the year 2024 due to the number of femicides registered. The measures implemented include the strengthening of the Inter-institutional Commission for the Follow-up of Violent Deaths of Women and Femicides through the adoption of a Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Combat of Violent Deaths of Women and Femicides. Women's organizations strengthened their advocacy and political articulation capacities, achieving the historic approval of the Shelter Homes Law. In addition, with the support of UN Women, the Purple Alert Law for the Search for Disappeared Women was submitted to the Gender Commission of the National Congress for its positioning in Congress.

The State and the Honduran population reduce the violence and conflict that affects them, with particular attention to violence against women and youth.

Increased femicide rates and violence against women and girls. The National Violence Observatory (ONV), affiliated with the Institute for Democracy, Peace, and Security (IUDPAS) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, published its preliminary data for 2023, revealing a total of 380 femicides, 72 more victims than in 2022, a year that concluded with 308 cases. In June 2023, there was a peak, with a total of 87 violent deaths of women, of which 46 were women deprived of liberty, corresponding to a femicide in a massacre that occurred within the National Female Penitentiary for Social Adaptation. Promoted by the interinstitutional coordination between the Executive and Judicial branches, specialized advisory support has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of the Interinstitutional Commission for Monitoring and Investigating Violent Deaths and Femicides. This collaborative effort has culminated in the creation and enactment of the Purple Alert Law, accompanied by dedicated budgetary provisions and a comprehensive regulatory framework. This strategic approach has yielded concrete measures aimed at addressing and proactively preventing instances of violent deaths and femicides.