Case history: Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia
On 6 July 2016, the body of human rights defender Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia was found near the municipal dump of Marcala, in the department of La Paz, Honduras. Lesbia had disappeared a day earlier, at around 5pm, when she left her house to go cycling.
Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia was a community leader and a member of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (Copinh). She joined the organisation in 2009 during the protests against the coup d'etat. She actively worked to oppose the construction of the hydroelectric dam “Aurora I” in the municipality of San José, La Paz. The company behind the project is owned by Gladys Aurora López, president of the National Party and vice-president of the National Congress.
On 6 July 2016, the body of human rights defender Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia was found near the municipal dump of Marcala, in the department of La Paz, Honduras. Lesbia had disappeared a day earlier, at around 5pm, when she left her house to go cycling.
Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia was a community leader and a member of the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (Copinh). She joined the organisation in 2009 during the protests against the coup d'etat. She actively worked to oppose the construction of the hydroelectric dam “Aurora I” in the municipality of San José, La Paz. The company behind the project is owned by Gladys Aurora López, president of the National Party and vice-president of the National Congress.
COPINH has been active for over 20 years, peacefully defending of the territory and rights of the Lenca people. The organisation has led fierce campaigns against illegal logging and mega-projects, opposing the projects' detrimental effects on the rights of indigenous peoples. In recent months, COPINH members have been facing increasing harassment, threats and attacks, which have escalated since the killing of Berta Cáceres, who was murdered in her home in Intibucá, on 3 March 2016.
In their press release, COPINH said that this killing “confirms there is a plan to disappear the people who are defending the environment and the common goods.” COPINH stated:
“The death of Lesbia Yaneth is a political feminicide, and an attempt to silence the voice of those brave women who are courageously defending their rights and opposing the patriarchal, racist and capitalist system of of their society”.
Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the killing of human rights defender Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia and calls on the Honduran authorities to launch a transparent and independent investigation. Front Line Defenders also condemns the ongoing threats and attacks against COPINH members and human rights defenders in Honduras.
Read also: EU Statement on the killing of HRD Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia
