This document presents the findings and recommendations of the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers that visited Honduras in September 2025, in response to an invitation from Indigenous Peoples, campesino communities, and civil society organizations in the country. The mission, accompanied by Bufete Justicia para los Pueblos, DPLF, and Peace Brigades International (PBI), evaluated the escalation of agrarian conflicts and patterns of criminalization affecting those defending land and territory.
The information gathered during the visit indicates that these conflicts have deep historical roots and unfold in a context shaped by the convergence of multiple factors, including business interests, institutional weaknesses, and the involvement of actors linked to illicit economies. Within this setting, recurring patterns of forced evictions, excessive use of force, and arbitrary criminal proceedings were identified, significantly impacting Indigenous peoples and campesino communities. The findings also point to conditions that foster impunity for serious human rights violations against community and environmental leaders.
The report examines this situation in light of the international human rights obligations assumed by the Honduran State, as well as recommendations issued by international bodies and testimonies collected by the delegation. It further analyzes the use of criminal law—particularly the offense of unlawful occupation—in the context of land disputes, as well as the effects of recent legal reforms on due process guarantees and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Finally, the report identifies structural challenges related to land tenure, including limitations in land registry and cadaster systems, as well as in the functioning of relevant institutions. Based on these findings, the Delegation puts forward recommendations addressed to the three branches of the Honduran State, the international community, multilateral financial institutions, and transnational corporations with investments in the country, aimed at addressing the root causes of agrarian conflicts and strengthening the protection of the rights of criminalized communities.
