_-_copia.jpg?w=800&resize=800,500&ssl=1 "State of emergency in Honduras")
The United Nations (UN) urges the Honduran government to revoke the ongoing state of emergency prior to the national elections set for November 30, 2025. The international organization states that extending this extraordinary situation poses a significant threat to fundamental rights, restricting vital liberties like movement, gathering, and peaceful protest. The UN cautions that holding onto a state of emergency without proper scrutiny could undermine the integrity of the electoral process and the democratic climate in the nation.
In its announcement, the group emphasizes that the voting process should occur without intimidation or undue limitations. Prolonging the emergency state might lead to a fearful atmosphere, conflicting with open and just elections, while also heightening the chances of authority misuse and hindering political and social actors’ engagement. Consequently, they call for the immediate reinstatement of constitutional rights to assure fair conditions for involvement.
Dangers linked to the emergency situation in the election environment
Various human rights agencies linked to the United Nations system have pointed out that the continuation of the state of emergency in Honduras increases the risk of authoritarian practices and directly affects the political participation of opposition sectors and civil society organizations. The limitation of rights such as demonstration and assembly compromises democratic development, especially in an electoral context.
The rapporteur on civil and political rights has emphasized that democracy and repression cannot coexist. The continuation of the state of emergency could undermine the legitimacy of the process and erode public confidence in the institutions responsible for guaranteeing free elections.
Appeal for a fair and open voting process
Considering the current circumstances, the United Nations has urged the Honduran government to completely reinstate the paused constitutional rights and to ensure the protection of press freedom, protests, and public movement throughout the election period. Moreover, it has emphasized the need to enhance the function of the National Electoral Council (CNE) as an autonomous entity and to permit unrestricted local and global observation to guarantee the process’s integrity and credibility.
The global organization determines that advancing toward fair elections is not feasible during a state of emergency. To safeguard the nation’s democratic integrity, it is crucial to end this exceptional situation and encourage active citizen involvement, ensuring equal opportunities and full respect for basic rights.