Honduras's Anti-Corruption Fight Stalled by Budget Shortfalls and Weak Institutions, ASJ Warns

Honduras's fight against corruption is significantly hampered by a lack of adequate funding and persistent institutional weaknesses, according to Nelson Castañeda, director of Security and Justice at the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). He highlighted that the Public Ministry, crucial for criminal investigations, suffers from insufficient resources, with its budget remaining virtually unchanged over the past five years.

"We do not have the capacity to hire more prosecutors, more experts, or specialized investigative agents in corruption matters," Castañeda stated. This budgetary constraint limits the Public Ministry's ability to effectively respond to the numerous corruption cases facing the country. The ASJ representative emphasized that the problem is not isolated to the Public Ministry but reflects a systemic failure within the justice system, including other institutions responsible for oversight and sanctions.

Castañeda pointed to the Superior Court of Accounts (TSC) as an example of these systemic flaws. This institution is responsible for issuing reports on potential crimes like illicit enrichment. However, over the last five years, the TSC has only submitted four reports recommending criminal prosecution for such cases. "The question here is how it is possible that a Superior Court of Accounts, with the budget it has, has only submitted four reports on illicit enrichment. It is not just a matter of budget; it could have presented more reports," he questioned.

The ASJ director attributed the high levels of impunity in Honduras to several factors: a lack of political will, the absence of a clear anti-corruption roadmap, and the budgetary limitations affecting institutional operations. He warned that the justice system is not functioning effectively, with records showing a regression in convictions and indictments. Castañeda also criticized the public debate for focusing on political issues while neglecting the internal strengthening of justice institutions.

He recalled that for four years, discussions about the potential establishment of an international anti-corruption commission (CICIH) dominated the national agenda, overshadowing necessary actions to bolster national investigative and sanctioning capacities. "We must achieve significant records in the fight against corruption, at least in cases that generate impact and prevent other officials from committing the same acts," he urged. Castañeda concluded by alerting that the high perception of impunity has damaged Honduras's international image, as reflected in indicators like Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index.