The creation of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), a key campaign pledge by President Xiomara Castro, has been delayed yet again following the fifth renewal of the memorandum of understanding with the United Nations. This week’s announcement aligns with the ongoing stagnation in the National Congress regarding the approval of constitutional changes vital for the operation of the anti-corruption initiative.
The deadlock has sparked renewed criticism from different segments of civil society and from the global community, who see the postponement as an indicator of diminishing government dedication to combating impunity. The absence of legislative agreement, especially regarding the removal of parliamentary immunity, is hindering the successful implementation of the CICIH, even after a second official proposal was submitted to the UN in September 2024.
Responses from institutions and society
The executive branch has consistently expressed its readiness to create the commission, highlighting progress in discussions with the United Nations. Nonetheless, its establishment relies on legal and constitutional changes that need to be passed by Congress, where adequate backing has yet to be secured.
Following the implementation of the recent extension, important sectors have voiced their displeasure regarding the management of the procedure.
A member of the National Party in Congress characterized the extension as “a setback for those who trusted in the pledge for justice,” highlighting the dissatisfaction among the political opposition. At the same time, entities like the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ), Transparency International, and the Bar Association have urged the removal of the institutional barrier hindering the project’s progress.
Challenges in politics and public fatigue
The journey to set up the CICIH encounters several hurdles politically. Included in these are the foundational changes that may require eliminating legal safeguards seen by social groups as hindrances to effectively combating corruption. The absence of political intent in Congress has been identified by different groups as a significant reason for the deadlock.
Over two years after Castro took office, groups from civil society and networks of citizens are highlighting a discrepancy between early assurances and concrete measures. These groups emphasize that the continual delay in making critical decisions has diminished trust in the administration and the institutional framework overall.
Appeals for measures and global influence
The updated agreement does not specify an exact date for the creation of the CICIH. International observers warn this might threaten the nation’s trustworthiness regarding global collaboration. The appearance of stagnation has led to doubt among foreign entities, possibly resulting in adverse impacts on the financial and technical aid Honduras receives to bolster its democratic institutions.
Given this scenario, various voices have raised the urgent need to unblock the process through the immediate approval of the necessary reforms, which would allow for the signing of a final agreement with the UN. These actions, they argue, would not only activate a mechanism to combat corruption, but also send a signal of commitment to transparency and accountability.
Institutional perspective remains unclear
The extended duration of setting up the CICIH underscores the fundamental challenges Honduras encounters in creating an autonomous and efficient framework. The continuous presence of legal barriers, along with the absence of political agreement, has stalled a key initiative intended to address impunity in the nation.
The scenario emphasizes the conflicts between the global obligations undertaken by the executive branch and the internal workings of the legislature, alongside the difficulty in turning political promises into tangible structural changes. At the same time, the nation lacks an international support system to probe high-stake cases, bringing into question the endurance of institutional initiatives to fight corruption in both the short and medium term.