Posted on 9-9-2004

Killing Of Children Continues

Child-killers in Honduras continue to get away with murder, with nearly
700 murdered or extrajudicially executed in the last 18 months, Amnesty
International said today (6 September). The killings continue with
impunity, exactly two years since the creation of the Special Unit for the
Investigation of Violent Deaths of Children. In response, Amnesty
International today relaunched its world-wide campaign calling on the
Honduran government to stop impunity.

Sara Sauceda Flores’ son, 16 year-old Darwin, was arrested and beaten by a
police officer in February 2002, held for two days and released. One day
later his body was found with signs that he had been summarily executed.
She has been intimidated and threatened after filing complaints against
the two officers she believes murdered her son. No one has been brought to
justice for his killing.

Since the creation of the Special Unit for the Investigation of Violent
Deaths of Children, it has only looked at 400 of over 2,300 cases of
assassinations of children and young people since January 1998. Only 88
cases were forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office, and only three have
resulted in a conviction. Although the government has admitted that police
officers have been involved in many of the killings, just two policemen
have so far been convicted.

Promises made by the government have also failed to be honoured. Despite
the announcement last year of the establishment of a National Witness
Protection Plan for judicial proceedings, to date no adequate mechanism
has been established. Protection of witnesses is of paramount importance
as they can be intimidated to prevent them from providing testimony
against perpetrators.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“Thousands of children in Honduras face a similar fate to Darwin. The
Honduran authorities must prevent and punish killings of children and
young people in the country, and protect witnesses.

“It is critical that both the Special Unit and the Attorney General’s
Office are given sufficient resources and independence to do this. The
government should appoint ad-hoc judges to work specifically on these
cases. The future of the country depends on it.”