UN agreement on creating anti-corruption body announced

Citizen participation

After months of negotiation between representatives of the Honduran government and the UN, the draft memorandum of understanding for the installation of the International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH in Spanish) was released on July 28. As a result of the agreement, it was determined that the international body would be empowered to initiate investigations and, unlike the Mission of Support against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH in Spanish), it will be able to initiate investigations on its own and criminally denounce corruption cases before the local courts. The process for the installation of the Commission is divided into two phases.

Phase 1 includes a diagnostic assessment of national capacities, instruments and institutions, carried out by UN experts, and a review of national legislation in order to make the necessary adjustments to the legal framework to ensure compliance with the proposed objectives. The document points out two regulations in particular.

On the one hand, a 2019 decree that establishes the procedure for auditing funds allocated to public institutions and their auxiliary entities/bodies, public officials and congressmen, municipal corporations, NGOs, trusts and any natural or legal person for the development of works, projects or social programs. However, to date, the audit by the Superior Court of Accounts only reached 1% of the funds, according to the reports of the Specialized Fiscal Unit Against Corruption Networks.

On the other hand, the reform of the Organic Law of the Nominating Board, the body that selects and proposes candidates for magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice, which has already been approved by Congress. The reform introduced changes in the majorities needed for the board’s decisions, the status of its members and the requirements for nominations. From now on, civil organizations without legal status will be able to participate in the voting for their representative on the Board, but will not be able to run for the position. On August 17, the Secretariat for Transparency and Fight against Corruption announced the names of the civil society representatives to the Nominating Board.

Phase 2 includes the designation of CICIH officials, the installation of the offices in the country and the stipulation of the financial arrangements necessary for their operation. Alice Shackleford, the UN Resident Coordinator, stated that the intention of the international organization is to move forward with these commitments and pointed out that the fate of the negotiation is now in the hands of Xiomara Castro’s government.

Note from the editor. On August 24, Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina published the national government’s counter-proposal to the draft Memorandum of Understanding to install the UN International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH). To be expanded.

🟢Civic Space Impact: POSITIVE

🟠Rating Civicus: REPRESSED