The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and seven partner organizations that form the International Mission for Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom in Honduras warned of intensifying risks for Honduran journalists in a joint letter ahead of the country’s November 30 general elections, citing judicial harassment, surveillance, and widespread impunity threatening independent reporting and the public’s right to information.

The International Mission held listening and observation sessions in late October with journalists from 10 Honduran departments and met with the National Human Rights Commissioner (CONADEH) to assess conditions for free expression during the electoral period. Journalists described an atmosphere of intimidation and control, marked by profiling, infiltration of chats, restrictions on political coverage, online attacks, and gender-based violence against women and Indigenous reporters.

CPJ and its partners urged Honduran authorities and the international community to ensure journalists can have safe and equitable access to information during the elections, refrain from stigmatizing rhetoric, end the use of criminal defamation laws, and strengthen the National Protection Mechanism and CONADEH with adequate resources and autonomy. 

Read the full statement in Spanish here.