Our Past Work in Honduras
Program to Strengthen Forensic Capacity in Central America
2011 – 2018 | The U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
ABA ROLI provided technical assistance in El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Panama, and Guatemala to strengthen the use of forensic evidence in criminal investigations and prosecutions to combat impunity—such as discomfort w/ in-court testimony, the accumulation of written records, and the very narrow use of scientific evidence in criminal cases. Through training and the creation of working groups in all these countries, inter-institutional coordination plans were created to increase collaborative work and communication between forensic, justice, and law enforcement institutions. In Honduras, our work led to the creation of a joint Working Group that subsequently developed a national coordination plan and a Crime Scene Protection Manual.
Reducing Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in Central America Initiative (WAGE)
2018 – 2020 | U.S. Department of State, Office of Global Women´s Issues
The Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) is a global consortium led by the ABA ROLI in partnership with the Center for International Private Enterprise, Grameen Foundation, Search for Common Ground, and 43 resource partners. WAGE advances the status of women and girls by strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations, private sector and semi-private sector organizations in target countries to improve the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV); advance the women, peace, and security agenda; and support women’s economic empowerment. ABA ROLI worked with a variety of partners to strengthen women’s financial inclusion, reduce gender-based violence and promote the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. To achieve these goals, we worked with partners to assess the legal and policy challenges that exist in Honduras and El Salvador, develop gender-based violence participatory risk assessment and mitigation plans, and provide technical assistance through legal awareness training, holistic legal aid services, and workshops. The consortium developed several online resources through the program in order to examine compliance with international treaties that respect, protect, and promote women’s rights, ensure gender equality, and prohibit gender-based discrimination.
Strengthening Capacity and Commitment to Combat Wildlife Trafficking in Latin America
2019-2020 | U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
After conducting a legal assessment of the region, ABA ROLI produced a wildlife trafficking roadmap report for governments, and local and international organizations to support efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in the region. ABA ROLI hosted and conducted bi-national training sessions for Honduran and Nicaraguan prosecutors, law enforcement officials and key government actors with the knowledge, skills, and tools to help them better respond to wildlife trafficking crimes and its relationship with other types of transnational organized crimes.
SAICM Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project – Lead in Paint Component
2019 – 2021 | United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization
Under this program, ABA ROLI worked to promote the adoption of legislation to restrict the use of lead paint and phase out the use of lead additives in Honduras, among other countries. With our significant legal expertise and global network of legal experts, we provided technical support to increase awareness of the risks of lead paint and the need to adopt legislation, regulatory frameworks, and standards to prevent children’s exposure to paints containing lead. Our work resulted in the presentation of a model law that addressed the need for legal controls for lead in paint and promoted a more effective application of standards. Additionally, our work helped the Honduran public better understand the safety limits of lead traces in paints and the mechanisms to ensure compliance with these standards.
Reducing Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment in El Salvador and Honduras (WAGE)
2019-2020 | U.S. Department of State
The primary objective of the WAGE Honduras initiative was to improve the financial inclusion of women, based on a barrier and opportunities country assessment that the program conducted. The program provided financial support to women entrepreneurs through a loan-matching fund implemented in partnership with Kiva, and it collaborated with microfinance institutions (MFIs) to reduce the barriers that women face in starting and scaling businesses. WAGE also linked MFIs to GBV and legal aid service providers to provide holistic financial services to women micro-entrepreneurs. WAGE’s initiative in El Salvador and Honduras supported over 8,858 female entrepreneurs and deployed over $2,237,375 USD in loan-matching funds.