A/HRC/35/23/Add.1 sheets.69 During the visit, the Special Rapporteur received numerous and concerning reports about the existence of extermination squads that targeted children. The actions of these squads were reportedly motivated by considerations of “social cleansing”. VI. Impunity for violations of the right to life 76. Impunity is a widespread problem in Honduras that has a particular affect on violations of the right to life. Lack of resources and technical capacity, intimidation and killings of justice operators, lack of independence of the judiciary, corruption of public officials and infiltration by organized crime are substantial barriers to obtaining justice and have virtually stalled the judicial system. 77. The Special Rapporteur received information about corruption, infiltration and interference with the judiciary, including in the handling of cases and in the appointment or dismissal of judges and prosecutors. Interest groups or individuals often bribe, threaten or attack judges to influence their work. Lack of independence and corruption within the judiciary hampers the institutional capacity of the criminal justice system to respond effectively to human rights violations and ensure accountability. 78. In addition, the country’s prosecutorial services have been marred by accusations of inefficiency and lack of will to investigate criminal cases, particularly high profile ones. Inadequate forensic protocols and services, overreliance on witness testimonies in judicial procedures, and police refusal to carry out crucial investigative tasks that prosecutors assign to them70 further obstructs the administration of justice and hinders accountability. 79. As a result of these shortcomings, impunity affects 97 per cent of murder cases in Honduras.71 The level of impunity in connection to violations of the right to life is alarming and one of the determinant factors in the spiralling of violence, as the prospect of prosecution is not an effective deterrent of crime. It also frustrates expectations and chances for justice and reparation for victims of human rights violations. 80. The absence of accountability sends a message to society that violence is tolerated by the State and undermines the public’s trust in the authorities. The lack of public confidence in the judicial system and its institutional capacity to obtain justice for victims is also likely to exacerbate the underreporting of crimes. Some reports indicate that only 20 per cent of all crimes are reported in Honduras, which is alarmingly low. 72 81. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that measures had been adopted to address impunity and corruption, including the establishment of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras and a collaboration agreement with the organization Transparency International for the promotion of transparency, combating of corruption and strengthening of integrity systems. 82. The Special Rapporteur was dismayed to observe the lack of reliable statistics on the number of homicides that led to prosecutions, including of security forces. The lack of reliable figures hinders transparency and exacerbates people’s mistrust in institutions. 83. The overly broad interpretation of confidentiality requirements in Honduran criminal procedures — by which police and prosecutors refuse to provide information on the status of investigations to families of victims — also affects transparency, trust and accountability. 69 70 71 72 See Casa Alianza, “Annual report: 2014”, p. 18. Available from www.casaalianza.org.hn/images/documentos/Comunicados/CAH.2015/Informes.Mensuales.2015/situacin%20d e%20derechos%20de%20nios%20nias%20y%20jvenes%20en%20honduras.pdf. See www.hrw.org/report/2014/02/12/there-are-no-investigations-here/impunity-killings-and-otherabuses-bajo-aguan, p. 21 See A/HRC/32/35/Add.4, p. 5, and www.amnesty.org/es/countries/americas/honduras/reporthonduras/. See Journalism in the Shadow of Impunity, p. 28. 15