To: The United States House of Representatives

Cosponsor the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act

Cosponsor HR 5474, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act.

Why is this important?

In response to the assassination of Honduran indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceres on March 2, Reps. Hank Johnson [1], John Conyers, Marcy Kaptur, Keith Ellison, Jose Serrano, and Jan Schakowsky [2] have introduced legislation [3] that would suspend U.S. funding to the government of Honduras for police and military operations until the Honduran government investigates credible reports indicating the police and military are violating human rights.

The U.S. is sending the Honduran government $18 million in 2016 for "security assistance." The State Department, the New York Times, and human rights groups have reported credible allegations that the Honduran police and military have committed gross human rights abuses – including torture, rape, illegal detention, and murder – with impunity.

HR 5474 requires investigations into killings of human rights activists and demands the Honduran government protect the rights of trade unionists; journalists; human rights; defenders; Indigenous, Afro-Indigenous, small farmers and LGBTI activists; critics of the government and other civil society activists so they may operate without interference from the police or military.

Urge your Representative in the House to co-sponsor the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act by signing our petition.

References:
1. https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-introduces-berta-c-ceres-human-rights-honduras-act
2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5474/cosponsors
3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5474