Central America

Journalists in Honduras face high risk amid ongoing violence and impunity

The National Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (CONADEH) reported on Saturday that at least 101 people working in media have been violently killed between October 2001 and May 2025, with approximately 88% of the cases remaining unsolved.

In a public statement, the state-run human rights office noted that from 2022 to early 2025, at least 11 media professionals were killed violently, but only one case has resulted in a conviction.

The victims include journalists, photographers, cameramen, editors, radio hosts, sound engineers, comedians, entertainment show hosts, news directors, sports reporters, and media owners, CONADEH added.

Between 2016 and 2024, the institution also received 133 complaints from journalists and media workers who faced threats or were victims of forced displacement. Of these cases, 75% involved threats.

The situation has escalated so significantly that half of these complaints were filed between 2022 and 2024 alone.

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According to CONADEH, Honduran journalists and media professionals face serious and complex risks, including constant threats and acts of violence, which increase their vulnerability to forced displacement.

On the eve of Honduran Journalists’ Day, observed on May 25, CONADEH highlighted the severe threats faced by members of the press in the country, calling journalism a high-risk profession.

“The first months of 2025 have been marked by a series of violations against press freedom,” the report says, “ranging from threats, physical assaults, harassment, intimidation, legal action, forced displacement, and continued impunity for crimes committed against media workers.”

The report warns that violence against journalists directly undermines freedom of expression, violating the rights to life, work, free thought, and the ability to report without fear.

CONADEH called for an end to threats and harassment against journalists and communicators, whether they come from private individuals or state agents.

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The data from 2016 to 2024 shows that of the 133 complaints, 75% were related to threats, 10% to attempted murders, 5% to attacks on property, and 5% to violent deaths of family members.

Among the alleged perpetrators, 45% were unknown individuals, 15% were members of criminal gangs, and another 15% were known to the victims, the report added.

Central America

Panama seizes over 1,200 drug packages in container bound for Lithuania

Authorities in Panama reported the seizure of 1,251 packages of suspected drugs hidden inside a shipping container bound for Lithuania, just days after intercepting another shipment of similar size headed to the same destination.

The Panama Public Prosecutor’s Office stated on social media that, through its Colón Drug Prosecutor’s Office and in coordination with the National Anti-Drug Directorate, authorities carried out the operation. The illicit substance was discovered inside a container scheduled for export.

Last Friday, officials also seized 1,506 packages of drugs in another container destined for Lithuania.

While authorities have not specified the type or exact weight of the seized substance, drug packages in Panama typically weigh around one kilogram each, and cocaine remains the most commonly confiscated narcotic in the country.

So far this year, Panamanian authorities have reported multiple drug seizures. Among them was a shipment of 5,356 packages intercepted on January 17, when agents of the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) stopped a vessel near the Pearl Islands archipelago in the Pacific.

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According to official figures, in 2025 Panama seized 129 tons of drugs and 47.8 tons of chemical precursors, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking.

Central America

Guatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas

The government of Guatemala has narrowed the scope of its state of emergency to the areas most affected by gang violence, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda announced on Thursday.

The measure comes two months after coordinated attacks attributed to the Barrio 18 left 11 police officers dead.

President Bernardo Arévalo initially imposed a state of siege in mid-January following the violence, which was reportedly in retaliation for government intervention in three prisons where gang leaders had staged uprisings.

That measure, which allowed arrests without a warrant, expired after one month. It was then replaced by a less restrictive “state of prevention,” alongside an increased security deployment in Guatemala City and surrounding areas.

According to Villeda, the state of prevention has been extended for two additional weeks but will now apply primarily to the central department of Guatemala — home to the capital — and Escuintla, which have recorded the highest levels of homicides and criminal activity.

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“We need to continue these joint operations between the police and the military to maintain control,” the minister said.

The measure will also remain in effect in border departments including Petén, San Marcos and Huehuetenango, which border Mexico, as well as Izabal, which borders Honduras and Belize, in an effort to prevent the entry of criminal groups linked to drug trafficking.

Villeda added that in the past two weeks, homicides have dropped by 25% and extortion cases by 33% compared to the same period in 2025.

Central America

Costa Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns

The government of Costa Rica announced on Wednesday the closure of its embassy in Cuba, a move that signals a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed that Costa Rica has also requested the withdrawal of Cuban diplomatic personnel from San José, leaving only consular representation in place.

According to André, the decision is driven by concerns over the worsening human rights situation on the island, including increased repression against citizens and opposition figures.

He also noted that Cuba’s ongoing economic and social crisis—marked by shortages of food, medicine, and basic services—has made the operation of the embassy increasingly difficult.

President Rodrigo Chaves backed the measure, stating that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba’s political system.

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In response, the Cuban government rejected the decision, calling it a “unilateral” move taken under pressure from United States.

“Under pressure from the United States, Costa Rica has limited its relations with Cuba to consular matters,” Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said, describing the action as “arbitrary.”

Despite the diplomatic setback, Cuban authorities stated that historical ties between the two nations would endure.