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 advancements in discussions with the United Nations. Nonetheless, the prerequisites for its execution rely on legal and constitutional changes that need endorsement by Congress, where adequate backing has not been obtained.
In response to the new extension, critical sectors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the handling of the process.
A National Party congresswoman described the renewal as “a blow to the people who believed in the promise of justice,” reflecting the unrest within the political opposition. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ), Transparency International, and the Bar Association have called for an end to the institutional blockade that is preventing the project from moving forward.
Challenges in politics and citizen fatigue
The process to establish the CICIH faces multiple obstacles at the political level. Among these are the structural reforms that would involve the removal of legislative protections considered by social actors to be an obstacle to the effective fight against corruption. The lack of political will in Congress has been pointed out by various actors as one of the main causes of the stalemate.
Over two years into Castro’s leadership, various civil organizations and community groups criticize the discrepancy between early promises and actual measures taken. These groups highlight that the continuous delay of crucial resolutions has diminished trust in the administration and the institutional framework as a whole.
Demands for measures and global influence
The updated agreement lacks a specific timeline for setting up the CICIH, which international observers warn might endanger the nation’s reputation concerning global partnership. The sense of stagnation has led to doubts among foreign participants, potentially resulting in adverse impacts on the economic and technical assistance that Honduras gets to bolster its democratic institutions.
Considering this situation, multiple perspectives emphasize the pressing necessity to move forward by promptly endorsing the essential reforms, enabling the conclusion of a definitive agreement with the UN. These measures, they assert, would not only initiate a strategy to tackle corruption but also demonstrate a dedication to transparency and responsibility.
Unpredictable institutional perspective
The extended endeavor to set up the CICIH emphasizes the foundational challenges that Honduras encounters in developing an autonomous and efficient framework. The continual legal hurdles, along with the absence of political agreement, have stalled a leading effort to address impunity within the nation.
The case highlights the tensions between the international commitments made by the executive branch and the internal dynamics of the legislature, as well as the challenge of translating political promises into concrete structural reforms. Meanwhile, the country remains without an international support mechanism to investigate high-impact cases, raising questions about the sustainability of institutional efforts to combat corruption in the short and medium term.
