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On January 26, PBI-Honduras tweeted: “PBI accompanies Visitación Padilla in the march organized by different feminist organizations in the framework of Honduran Women’s Day. We highlight the efforts and commitment of Honduran women in the search for a world free of violence against women.”

On Facebook they further note: “Honduras is among the most dangerous countries in Latin America to be a woman, we express our concern for the vulnerability conditions in which women live in this country.”

Visitación Padilla (1882-1960) was the most prominent feminist, pacifist and anti-imperialist in Honduras. The Movimiento de Mujeres por la Paz “Visitación Padilla” (Visitacion Padilla Women’s Movement for Peace) was formed in 1984 as a political movement against oppression and named in her memory.

Criterio.hn reports: “Starting at 8:30 in the morning, in commemoration of the 67th anniversary of the recognition of women’s political rights and the assumption to power of the first president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, women flooded the historic center of Tegucigalpa, celebrating her day and the historical events that each struggle has spawned.”

That article adds: “This date was not chosen randomly, every January 25 Honduran women celebrate the conquest of the right to vote, a right acquired in 1955. At that time, the president of Honduras, Julio Lozano Díaz, issued a ministerial decree that, although it had some restrictions, allowed women to go to the polls to vote for the first time.”

Yesterday the Observatory of Violence of the National Autonomous University of Honduras reported that 318 women were murdered in Honduras in 2021, which is equivalent to a violent death or femicide every 27 hours and 33 minutes.

Proceso Digital reports: “Merly Eguigure, coordinator of the organization Visitación Padilla and representing the feminist movements of Honduras, told Proceso Digital that with the new government hopes are focused on the formation of an elite team to investigate the deaths of women. She indicated that the country needs agility in the investigation of femicides in the face of the increase in cases. She added that no femicide should go unpunished, while criticizing the slowness in the investigation of the cases.”

That Proceso Digital article also highlights: “The feminist leader said that some organizations of women and feminists with representation at the national level, delivered to the transition commission 23 proposals so that they can be taken as state actions in the government of President Xiomara Castro.”

Castro will be sworn into office tomorrow, Thursday January 27.

Photo: Merly Eguigure, coordinator of Visitacion Padilla Women’s Movement for Peace.

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