Honduras Local Governance Activity Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations and Social Inclusion
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HONDURAS LOCAL GOVERNANCE ACTIVITY Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations and Social Inclusion March, 2021 Honduras Local Governance Activity Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations and Social Inclusion Activity Title: Honduras Local Governance Activity Sponsoring USAID Office: USAID/Honduras Office of Democracy and Governance IDIQ Number: AID-OAA-I-14-00061 Task Order Number: AID-522-TO-17-00001 Contractor: DAI GLOBAL, LLC. Final Submission: March 29, 2021 This report is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of DAI and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. | ANALYSIS OF GENDER, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION // 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS 4 DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE 1 (DO1) MODIFICATION SUMMARY, JANUARY 2021 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 I. INTRODUCTION 8 II. HONDURAS GENERAL CONTEXT 10 III. ANALYSIS OF GENDER AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS 17 IV. ADDENDUM: DO1 ANALYSIS OF GENDER AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, JANUARY 2021 36 V. CONCLUSIONS 47 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS 48 VII. APPENDIX 58 | ANALYSIS OF GENDER, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION // 3 ACRONYMS1 AECID* Spain Agency of International Cooperation for Development ADELSAR* Coordinator of the Agency for Strategic Local Development AGVPSI Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations and Social Inclusion ANAMMH* National Alliance of Women Municipalists of Honduras AMHON* Association of Municipalities of Honduras APUVIMEH* Association for a Better Life of People Infected and Affected by HIV in Honduras CDM Center for Women’s Rights CEDAW* Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CIPPDV* Characterization of internal movement in Honduras by the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of people displaced by Violence ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ENDESA* National Survey of Demography and Health EPHPM* Permanent Survey of Multipurpose Homes EU European Union HLG Honduras Local Governance Activity IACHR Inter-American Commission on Human Rights IADB Inter-American Development Bank IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IHER* Honduran Institute of Education via Radio ILO International Labour Organization INAM* National Institute for Women INE* National Institute of Statistics LEOP* Electoral and Political Organizations Law LGBTI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex JAA* Water Management Board 1 Acronyms with an asterisk are derived from Spanish names. The Spanish names have been translated to English for the clarity of this report’s content | ANALYSIS OF GENDER, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION // 4 MSM Men who have Sex with Men OMJ Municipal Office for Youth OMM* Municipal Office for Women OPHI Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative UN United Nations PEA* Economically Active Population PIAH* Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Populations PIEGH* Honduras’ Plan for Gender Equality and Equity UNDP United Nations Development Program RAS-HON* Water and Sanitation Network of Honduras SACE* Secretary of Education of Honduras TSE* Supreme Electoral Court UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund USAID U.S. Agency for International Development WSP Water and Sanitation Program WHO World Health Organization | ANALYSIS OF GENDER, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION // 5 DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE 1 (DO1) MODIFICATION SUMMARY, JANUARY 2021 HLG’s Analysis of Gender, Vulnerable Populations and Social Inclusion (AGVPSI) was completed to identify gaps in the situation of women, youth, indigenous groups, the population with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI), as well as potential entry points or opportunities for the participation of these groups in decision making processes regarding municipal services. On March 13, 2017 HLG submitted the AGVPSI to USAID, who provided approval on May 23, 2017. On August 11, 2020 Task Order (TO) Contract Modification #8 was signed, extending the Activity through March 2022 to support local government and service providers’ capacity to respond to COVID-19 while continuing to strengthen the essential capacity of civil society groups, local governments, and service providers both in Western Honduras and targeted neighborhoods of five municipalities (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Choloma, la Ceiba, and Tela) under USAID’s Development Objective 1 (DO1) operational zones. As such, Section IV, DO1 Addendum of this document provides data and analysis on gender, vulnerable populations, and social inclusion in the DO1 operational zone, which addresses citizen security for vulnerable populations in urban, high-crime areas. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Honduras Local Governance (HLG) Activity began in November 2016, with the objective of optimizing the provision of municipal basic services and contributing to improve local governance in 90 municipalities of six departments in Western Honduras (Copán, Intibucá, Ocotepeque, La Paz, Lempira, and Santa Bárbara). The activity aims to contribute to improving the administrative management of municipal services-- including education, health, and water-- and strengthening citizen participation and local governance. To achieve this objective, the Activity completed the AGVPSI to identify both the barriers to the inclusion of women, youth, indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and the LGBTI population, as well as potential entry points or opportunities to increase participation of these groups in decision making and oversight processes regarding municipal services. The AGVPSI identified progress in the country regarding regulatory aspects towards social inclusion. The State has subscribed agreements, conventions, and international treaties in favor of non-discrimination of vulnerable groups, which serve as a framework for the defense of their rights. The country has also developed laws, policies, plans, and programs and / or institutions at the national level for the care and protection of vulnerable populations. However, there are fundamental challenges and lags in the implementation and effective functioning of these laws and institutions, due to budgetary constraints, lack of trained personnel, cultural barriers, and lack of transparency, among others. Some barriers to the full and effective participation of vulnerable groups in public and private spheres stem from existing power structures within the family, the socio-economic arena, political parties, and other groups. Based on cultural patterns linked to gender roles, for example, girls and women are generally expected to care for the family and focus on domestic life, limiting participation in other public order activities. This situation is deepened by other factors such as domestic violence, economic limitations, and low self-esteem, among others. On the other hand, stigmatization towards youth, aggravated by unemployment, early pregnancy, and violence in which young people are victims and perpetrators, can also lead to exclusion. Discrimination against the LGBTI community, due to a traditional conception of gender and sexual identity, leads to exclusion from family, educational, and health care spaces as well as hate crimes pushing these groups underground western. Additional barriers result from racism, discrimination against indigenous peoples, and mistrust and antagonism between indigenous organizations and the State regarding the management and use of natural resources. Additionally, | ANALYSIS OF GENDER, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION // 6 the lack of general awareness about the needs of people with disabilities; the vulnerability of their rights to work, education, access to specialized health services; and mobility and freedom of movement exposes challenges for this population. Even so, there are opportunities for participation and representation of vulnerable groups in decision-making. The principle of parity, which requires a quota system of 50% representation of women in candidate lists-- effective as of 2016, and in operation for the upcoming electoral processes-- can contribute to improved gender balance in political participation. In addition, various local decision-making structures have been created-- such as the Citizenship Transparency Committees (CTC), the Municipal Committees for Educational Development (COMDES), the Rural Health Centers (CESAR), the Dental Medical Health Centers (CESAMO), and the Water Boards-- which make the participation of the community at the municipal level possible. These spaces provide opportunities to enhance the voice of vulnerable groups in Honduras at the local level. To address further close the inclusion gap, HLG recommends strengthening these existing inclusive bodies and structures in the country and optimizing existing public consultation mechanisms at the municipal level, such as the Open Town Council meeting and participatory budget sessions, to ensure the inclusion of vulnerable groups in decision-making, and to align the provision of municipal services with needs in education, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation, among other sectors. Likewise, the local capacity of municipal officers should be strengthened to integrate issues around gender and vulnerable populations into municipal management. At the same time, the participation