A/HRC/13/66 the Supreme Court. The de facto Minister of Health however, issued a decree prohibiting this method of contraception. B. Human rights defenders 64. Human rights defenders have played a critical role in the protection of human rights during this period, helping to alleviate institutional failings. Their constant presence inside detention centres provided some external control, and helped to reduce the vulnerability of detainees and to prevent further torture and ill-treatment. 65. In the absence of comprehensive official records, the efforts of human rights NGOs enabled the gathering of more complete records of abuses and violations. The mission observed that in many instances the national authorities undertook investigations based on information provided by NGOs. NGO reports also led to an increase in the visibility of human rights violations among the international community. 66. In addition, human rights defenders themselves faced intimidation and attacks, as well as other obstacles while conducting their activities. For instance, two human rights defenders, an NGO activist and an officer of the regional ombudsman’s office, were arrested while attempting to stop members of the security forces from committing abuses against protesters. However, no charges were brought against them and they were later released. On 3 August, a public defender was verbally abused and threatened by police agents while trying to access a detention centre in San Pedro Sula to execute a writ of habeas corpus. Other human rights defenders, including a woman, complained of having been beaten and insulted by the security forces, particularly while visiting and defending detainees. Two other women human rights defenders were wounded by police officers on election day. According to allegations heard by the mission, threats and harassment against human rights defenders, particularly by members of the security forces, have progressively increased since the coup, apparently because actions to protect human rights have sometimes been equated by the de facto authorities with support for the FNRG. C. Accountability institutions and mechanisms 67. The institutions responsible for protecting human rights and guaranteeing the rule of law failed in many instances to accomplish their mandate, mainly due to a lack of independence. 68. During the period covered by this report, the lack of independence of the judiciary and the unequal and discriminatory application and interpretation of the law have been evident. The Attorney General’s Office, judges and the Supreme Court of Justice have, in general, supported the de facto authorities by defending restrictive measures at the expense of protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law. Despite actions adopted by some committed judges, public defenders and prosecutors, particularly in San Pedro Sula, the judiciary as a whole has been unable to guarantee fundamental rights in a proper and timely manner. 69. While the work of the Fiscalía was assessed negatively overall by victims and witnesses, action by individual human rights prosecutors was considered as more positive. However, the absence of an autonomous body of investigators, and insufficient will and initiative to investigate violations, were perceived as the main obstacle to moving ahead on individual cases, protecting victims and combating impunity. Likewise, in several cases, judges reportedly refused during court hearings to take action to follow up on complaints of torture and ill-treatment filed by demonstrators and others who had been arrested. GE.10-11700 15