Honduras - The IOM Mission in Honduras this week continued providing technological equipment and other supplies to the Honduran Government to enhance its response capacity to combat gender-based violence, specifically to stop human trafficking networks and curb the high rates on femicide and sexual abuse against girls and women.

Likza Salazar, Officer in Charge of IOM in Honduras, presented the equipment and supplies to IOM’s Government counterparts in the capital Tegucigalpa and said: “We have begun an active exchange of effective methodologies to implement a security approach whereby women can develop free from violence and have equal access to opportunities.”

In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), IOM worked with the Women’s National Institute and the Police Force to structure action plans, workshops and open dialogue to promote mechanisms to prevent gender-based violence under the application of national and international standards.

The equipment delivered in Tegucigalpa, valued at more than USD 2,100 per institution, will be administered by the Women’s Municipal Office and the Gender Unit in the National Police.

These efforts are part of other operations that IOM and UNFPA are carrying out to prevent gender-based violence in Honduras, including immediate response strategies and comprehensive assistance in health care, justice and security at community and regional level.

Both the Women’s National Institute (INAM by its Spanish acronym) and the National Police Force received the donation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Cooperation, which consists of office furniture, audio-visual and computer equipment, among other items.

Within the framework of the IOM/UNFPA-managed B.A.1 Project "Prevention of Violence Against Women in Central America", IOM equipped a total of 10 Women's Municipal Offices and two gender units nationwide in the cities of La Cobia, Tela, Ruinas Copán, Choloma, Santa Rosa de Copán, San Pedro Sula, Omoa, Ocotepeque and Trojes.

This initiative is funded by Finland and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in order to support the Honduran government to achieve the goals of reducing and preventing violence against girls and women in Central America.

According to the Observatory of Violence in Honduras, more than 530 cases of femicide were reported in 2014.  The highest number of deaths was amongst girls and women between the ages of 15-24.

Reported cases of sexual offenses against the female population reached over 1,700 last year.  Of these, 1,214 correspond to girls between the ages of 10-19.

To combat the abuse and death of women, the new equipment will reduce impunity by allowing for the systematization of information to follow up complaints, and the collection and analysis of data for the implementation of prevention activities.

For further information please contact Karen Arita in IOM Honduras. Tel: + 504 2220-1104, Email:karita@iom.int