Human rights reports highlight juvenile vulnerability in Honduras and Chile

Human rights organizations in Honduras and Chile have released reports highlighting the vulnerability of minors and the challenges within their respective judicial systems.

In Honduras, the National Commissioner for Human Rights (CONADEH) reported that adolescents make up less than 1% of the prison population. Out of 19,974 adults incarcerated, only 157 adolescents are in custody, while 1,426 are under non-custodial measures. CONADEH officials warned against stigmatizing youth as primary drivers of violence, noting that over 1.2 million children are out of the school system, increasing their risk of recruitment by criminal groups.

In Chile, the Defensoría de la Niñez released a report regarding the 2019 social unrest, revealing that only 28 cases resulted in convictions for rights violations against minors. The report analyzed 2,184 concluded legal proceedings, finding a conviction rate of approximately 1.3%. The institution noted significant difficulties in the judicial system to clarify complaints, with many cases being archived or dismissed without further action.