Honduras warns tougher femicide penalties won’t help without justice reforms

Honduran authorities have approved penal reforms that increase femicide sentences to 20, 30 or even 60 years in prison and establish specialized courts staffed by women. Coordinating the Violence Observatory at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, Migdonia Ayestas cautioned that "No es creando más leyes lo que va a resolver el problema de la violencia contra la mujer". She emphasized that the reforms will only be effective if the institutions that investigate and prosecute crimes are strengthened, including better scientific criminal investigation and gender‑perspective judging.

Ayestas noted that in the past six years only about 90‑100 femicide cases have been brought to trial, underscoring systemic shortcomings. She called for broader efforts such as teaching new masculinities to children and community prevention, warning that "si no se aplica la ley será papel mojado" if the new measures are not properly enforced.