Honduras: Concerns Over the Improper Use of Impeachment Proceedings Against High-Ranking Officials in the Judicial and Electoral Systems

March 26, 2026—The signing organizations express our concern over the initiation of impeachment proceedings against high-ranking officials in the justice and electoral systems.

The impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Johel Zelaya were conducted expeditiously by the National Congress and resulted in his removal from office and the immediate appointment of Pablo Emilio Reyes to the position. A similar process was also initiated against the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Rebeca Obando, who chose to resign from the role of president while remaining in her position as a justice. Amidst the context of these proceedings, the initiation of proceedings against other electoral officials has been announced.

We, the organizations, warn that the impeachment processes in Honduras are being carried out in a manner inconsistent with international human rights standards and in a context of high institutional polarization following the recent change in government.

Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism of political control that empowers the National Congress to investigate and sanction high-ranking state officials for actions taken in office.

While public officials are subject to political accountability, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has been clear that these impeachment proceedings are punitive in nature and must therefore strictly respect guarantees such as due process, legality, independence, impartiality, and access to judicial review, in accordance with Articles 8 and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights.

In this vein, Inter-American case law, including the cases of Gutiérrez Navas v. Honduras, Camba Campos et al. v. Ecuador, Quintana Coello et al. v. Ecuador, Chocrón Chocrón v. Venezuela, Reverón Trujillo v. Venezuela, and the Constitutional Court, has established that the use of removal mechanisms without clear grounds, without adequate procedural safeguards, or without judicial review is contrary to political standards and constitutes a serious violation of the rule of law.

It is particularly concerning that Honduras has resorted to such mechanisms when it has already been found in violation by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Gutiérrez Navas case and has outstanding international obligations, including bringing its domestic legislation on political prosecutions into line with inter-American standards.

Likewise, the Inter-American Court has warned that these procedures cannot be used as instruments to abuse power—that is, for purposes other than those provided for in the Constitution—particularly when they are aimed at unduly influencing or removing high-ranking officials from the justice system or electoral bodies. In this regard, when impeachment proceedings are initiated against officials of the justice system, additional safeguards are implemented, such as prohibiting holding them accountable for the content of their decisions or for legal criteria, to protect judicial independence (Ríos Avalos v. Paraguay).

In this context, it is a cause for concern that the current design and application of impeachment in Honduras—characterized by broad grounds, a concentration of powers in the National Congress, and the absence of effective judicial oversight—may facilitate the arbitrary use of impeachment.

We reiterate that impeachment cannot operate as a purely discretionary mechanism and must fully comply with international standards. Its use under conditions contrary to these standards not only weakens democratic institutions by facilitating a potential strategy of power concentration, but may also compromise the State’s international responsibility.

We urge Honduran authorities to ensure that any process to determine political accountability is conducted in strict accordance with the rule of law and international standards, and to refrain from exploiting impeachment to undermine the independence of other branches of government.

Signed:

Justice for the People Law Firm

Center for Research and Advocacy for Central America (CIIC)

Legal Center for Human Rights

Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)

Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH)

Cristosal Central America

Reflection, Research, and Communication Team (ERIC-SJ)

Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)

Foundation for Justice and the Democratic Rule of Law (FJEDD)

Honduras Delegation, Germany

La Vía Campesina Honduras

Ecumenical Office for Peace and Justice

November 25 Platform

International Platform Against Impunity

Women’s Network Against Violence in D.C.

REDEMURH

Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

UDIMUF

Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)