A/HRC/43/3/Add.2 B. Women’s rights 64. Structural inequality persisted and women continued to experience discrimination in all spheres of life. Women in conditions of poverty, indigenous women and AfroHondurans, as well as transgender and lesbian women experienced multiple forms of discrimination. Numerous important initiatives remained pending in Congress, such as the draft laws on domestic work, on violence against women in politics, on shelters for victims of violence and a comprehensive draft law on violence against women. The State of Honduras has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, thereby partially excluding women from the international protection system. 65. The very restrictive legislation on sexual and reproductive rights represented a major gap in the State’s fulfilment of its international obligations. Between 2008 and June 2019, at least 47 women were prosecuted for abortion, including 28 since 2014. The majority were domestic workers or secondary school students. Honduras has the third highest teenage pregnancy rate in the Central American region, yet the use, sale, distribution and purchase of emergency contraception is prohibited. These restrictive laws contribute to high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.47 C. Children’s rights 66. Children in Honduras represent 40 per cent of the population and are disproportionately affected by poverty and insecurity. Violence against children in its various forms, including physical and sexual violence, is widespread.48 The poor quality and lack of inclusiveness of the education system remains a major obstacle to the development of the child. Ten per cent of children of primary school age and 70 per cent of children aged 15 to 17 do not attend school. Poverty, lack of parental support and insecurity are major causes for dropout. 67. Although the juvenile system has improved since the establishment of the National Institute for the care of juvenile offenders in January 2018, measures need to be taken to prevent human rights violations against children deprived of their liberty.49 On 3 December, riots in the Renaciendo centre for juvenile offenders in the department of Francisco Morazán resulted in the death of four children and at least three were severely injured. As of 30 September 2019, 423 children were in detention, a figure similar to the previous year, while 1,184 enjoyed the benefits of alternative measures to detention. D. Rights of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex persons 68. Many gaps and shortcomings hampered the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity and the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex persons. Lack of public awareness, prejudices and misconceptions contributed to continued discrimination in all areas of life and to violence. In the course of 2019 at least 31 lesbian, gay transgender, bisexual and intersex persons were killed.50 69. No progress was made in the adoption of a law on gender identity and a law against discrimination, despite the efforts of civil society groups. Appeals filed in 2018 against the constitutionality of the prohibition of same-sex marriages remained pending before the Supreme Court. 51 In May, the Constitutional Chamber dismissed an appeal alleging 47 48 49 50 51 See UNFPA, State of World Population 2017. Worlds Apart: Reproductive Health and Rights in an Age of Inequality. See Government of Honduras and others, Encuesta de Violencia Contra Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes, 2017 (April 2019). Figures from the National Institute for the care of juvenile offenders. According to the NGO Cattrachas, since 2009, 336 lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex persons have been killed. File numbers 233/2018 and 552/2018. 13