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More than a hundred organizations from around the world have raised their voices following the murder of environmental defender Juan López.
More than one hundred civil society organizations from Honduras , Latin America, the United States and other parts of the world sent a letter to President Xiomara Castro, expressing their deep dismay and concern over the murder of environmentalist Juan López .
López was murdered on September 14, 2024, in a crime that shocked the international community and reflects an alarming pattern of violence against environmental defenders in Honduras.
The signatory organizations expressed their concern about the State’s inability to guarantee the safety of Juan López, and called on the president to take urgent measures to protect the life and integrity of the defenders.
A call to immediate action
The organizations are not only demanding protection for the defenders, but are also asking President Castro to resort to international bodies, such as the Inter-American human rights system and the United Nations, to thoroughly investigate the events.
In this way, they seek to ensure that those responsible face justice. “No person should lose their life fighting for the collective rights that guarantee the well-being of the Honduran people,” they emphasize in their letter.
Systemic violence against defenders
The murder of López is not an isolated incident. Honduras is listed in multiple international reports as one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders.
This new case highlights the urgency of a structural change that prioritizes the safety of those who work in the defense of water, land and the environment.
Civil society organizations express to President Castro their hope that, under her leadership, firm and decisive actions will be taken to eradicate the violence and impunity that plague the country.
