Honduras, 46 women burned to death in a rioting prison: it is the fourth mass fatal accident of 2023, the first in a women’s prison

ROME – The revolt in the prison of Támara, in Honduras, where 46 women died during the very violent clashes between criminal gangs “District 18” And “Mara Salvatrucha”. Most of the inmates died from burning in a fire and others from gunshot wounds. President Xiomara Castro fired the security minister, accusing the prison authorities of “acquiescence” in the course of the unrest, attributed to criminal gangs, with numerous contacts in the prisons of the Central American country. Pamela Ruiz, expert from a transnational NGO researching violent conflicts, Crisis Groupsaid it was the fourth mass incident in Honduran prisons of 2003, but the first in a women’s penitentiary.

The highest homicide rate in the world. President Castro has restored military control over prisons, stepping back on promises to put civilian police in charge of the penal system. Honduras, in general, is considered a very dangerous country and the homicide rate is one of the highest in the world. Crime is linked to the action of the ‘madras’, armed gangs that manage and control drug trafficking and the extortion of money. The armed attacks primarily target Hondurans.

A 950% increase in prison deaths. The prison system, as can be expected, does nothing but reflect the climate of widespread violence that exists in society. The overcrowding conditions are overwhelming, reaching between 250 and 300%. According to an NGO dossier world project, in Honduras, 2021 was one of the most violent years, with a 950% increase in violent deaths in prisons compared to previous years and 38 murdered, including 16 in adolescent centers. world project is active in the country with paths for the monitoring of Human rights and the fight against torture in prisons in Honduras and this year – with the formula of Civil Peace Corps – proposes the experience on the theme of social justice to four young adults who have not exceeded the age of 28 at the date of submission of the application on 30 June.

Some indicators. Here are some data that schematically represent the situation in prisons in the Central American country:

1) – Just 5% of teenagers who commit petty crimes in Honduras have access to extra-judicial means and alternative measures to imprisonment

2) – There were 38 cases of death in prison in one year, related to episodes of intra-prison violence or

State.

3) – 53 civil society organizations are part of the Coalition against Impunity.

4) – There are no elaborated and approved protocols and standards for receiving complaints.

5) – There are no educational curricula for training on human rights, on receiving complaints, paying attention to torture cases validated with justice operators.

6) – There are no alternative socio-educational measures to deprivation of liberty with a structured accompaniment service.