A/HRC/41/35/Add.2 12 Recommendation Status journalists, social communicators and human rights defenders to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights (para. 93 (g)) was put in place for following up on such cases. In March 2018, the Special Prosecutor for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators and Justice Officials was created. Substantially increase the staff and budget of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights and provide the staff members responsible for investigations and court proceedings with appropriate training (para. 93 (h)) Partially implemented. The budget of the Office has been increased, within overall increases in the budget of the Office of the Attorney General, and staff have been provided with opportunities for specialized training. However, these steps have proved insufficient to allow the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fulfil its mandate. Increase existing penalties for those who commit crimes against members of the press and violations of the right to freedom of expression, especially in cases involving agents of the State as perpetrators (para. 93 (i)) Not implemented. While a new penal code is under preparation, penalties for such crimes have not been increased. Any changes to the penal code must only strengthen, and not risk undermining, the environment for freedom of expression and the work of journalists and social communicators. Develop regulations to ensure transparent and equitable government spending on advertising so that it cannot be used by any given department or official to favour likeminded journalists or punish those who are critical of the Government (para. 94 (b)) Contravened. A lack of clear allocation criteria, procedures and oversight mechanisms persist. Decree 86-2013 introduced the possibility for media outlets to provide advertisement space to the Government in lieu of paying taxes, with decisions on such agreements resting with the President. Refrain from the misuse of nationwide simultaneous broadcasts (para. 94 (c)) Partially implemented. While simultaneous broadcasts have been used sparingly, reports suggest that the criteria for their deployment have not been followed. Amend the Telecommunications Framework Act to ensure the awarding of permits for the use of telecommunications frequencies on an equitable basis to communities and organizations of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent (para. 94 (d)) Not implemented. Establish a national institute for the furtherance of the languages of the different ethnic groups and peoples in Honduras (para. 94 (e)) Not implemented. However, programmes to protect and promote indigenous and Afro-Honduran languages have been implemented by the Ministry of Education. Give legal and political recognition to community-based media and ensure that they have the same rights and obligations as users of commercial frequencies (para. 94 (f)) Contravened. While the Regulation on Community Broadcasting Services issued by the National Communications Commission on 3 August 2013 provided legal recognition of community media, it imposed an overly burdensome framework for regularization, creating disproportionate barriers in comparison with commercial

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