A/HRC/16/2 by ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 533. The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims regretted that Honduras had not taken any initiative to effectively prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The national preventive mechanism against torture still did not have enough resources to carry out its activities, the proposal made by civil society to broaden the current definition of torture in legislation had been rejected and the adoption of the new penitentiary law had been stalled. Victims of human rights violations were invisible despite the law on compensation now before Congress. Honduras should display true interest in complying with universal periodic review recommendations. 534. Amnesty International welcomed the State’s voluntary pledge to initiate a process of consultations on a national human rights plan with the involvement of civil society. When at least 10 journalists were murdered in 2010, Amnesty International urged Honduras to immediately implement the recommendations on the protection of journalists and human rights defenders. It welcomed the acceptance of recommendations on investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons. Amnesty International considered that the acceptance of recommendations relating to the investigation of the grave human rights violations that occurred after the 2009 institutional crisis was a first welcome step. However, it was disappointed at the rejection of recommendations to drop disciplinary proceedings against the judges dismissed for expressing opposing views on the institutional crisis. 535. Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez welcomed the promise by Honduras to investigate the murder of journalists and to legally recognize community-based media. However, it recalled the murder of 10 journalists in 2010 and that the precautionary measures requested by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had not been fully implemented. Honduras had failed to amend the telecommunications law and attacks on community radio broadcasters were on the rise. This prompted allegation letters from United Nations and Commission special rapporteurs on freedom of expression, to which Honduras had not yet replied. Owing to intensive lobbying, Honduras vowed to investigate the murders and other attacks on journalists. This, however, had not been the case, and it reiterated its demand for an end to attacks on journalists. 536. Plan International, Inc. welcomed the recommendations on children living under difficult circumstances and stated that Honduras should take the measures necessary to guarantee human rights to children and establish an institution to protect the rights of indigenous children and those living in remote areas. Plan International stated that there had been no progress in the recommendations guaranteeing access to justice, preventing revictimization and ensuring rehabilitation, and provided figures on the prosecution of assassinations of children and youths. It added that no progress had been made on child labour and the sexual exploitation of children; Honduras should therefore implement recommendations from various human rights mechanisms to strengthen the institutions dealing with children. Plan International recalled the responsibility of the State in guaranteeing the rights of the child. 537. The Centre for Justice and International Law stated that Honduras had not implemented any recommendation to improve the administration of justice and the independence of judges. A constitutional reform had established the High Council of the Judiciary without ensuring a separation of administrative and judicial functions, and judges continued to be appointed on the basis of political recommendations. Honduras had no will to make reparations for violations of the independence of the judiciary. Lack of judicial independence had led to impunity, such as in the cases of murder of women. In 2010, 64 women were killed, while the unit set up to investigate such cases faced serious problems in 180 GE.11-17059