00:00With the support of all political parties through their respective women's secretariats,
00:05a new law against political violence toward women has been introduced in Honduras.
00:10That currently is experiencing an increase in widespread violence.
00:15Gerardo Torres Alaya reports from Tegucigalpa.
00:21Following several months of work by the Forum of Women in Politics,
00:25which is composed by the women's affairs secretaries from all political parties,
00:30a new bill that gains political violence toward women was presented to the National Congress
00:36against a backdrop of an alarming rise in violent murders of women.
00:41This legislative initiative, which was formally presented to the authorities of the National Congress,
00:49is a piece of legislation that has been in the works and actively promoted for more than 20 years.
00:56Essentially, it seeks to curb or mitigate political violence against women.
00:59We know that, in one way or another, women's political participation
01:02is becoming increasingly complicated and difficult on a day-to-day basis.
01:10Analysts believe that on this occasion the bill has a high chance of passing,
01:15giving the support from political parties and the government's interest in securing an achievement,
01:20especially against the backdrop of rising rates of extreme violence against women.
01:29So far this year, there have been 240 violent deaths of women, a serious situation,
01:34as it averages out to one death per day.
01:36When compared to the 288 such deaths recorded last year,
01:39if current conditions persist, this violence will only increase.
01:42This is particularly concerning given that certain departments,
01:45such as Francisco Morazón, Cortés, Olancho, Cologne, and Lloro are especially violent.
01:54Women's organizations welcome this new law, but they are deeply concerned that the rise in violence signals a regression,
02:02a return to an environment of violence that was thought to have been left behind.
02:09First, we must highlight the massive increase in violence against women.
02:12There have been more than 240 violent murders of women to date,
02:15which suggests a significant regression in terms of security.
02:18And we know that it is always women's bodies that bear the brunt of this harm.
02:25The situation for women in Honduras has become extremely dangerous.
02:29While the creation of laws which identify political violence as a crime represents a step forward,
02:36much remains to be done.
02:37And it appears that this year will end as one of the most violent in recent times.
02:43For Telesur in English, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Gerardo Torres Elaya.
