Honduras: A child protection court and/or other similarly named institutions, including their locations, mandates, activities, relationship to police authorities and the process of filing a complaint (1993 to April 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HND31898.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Honduras: A child protection court and/or other similarly named institutions, including their locations, mandates, activities, relationship to police authorities and the process of filing a complaint (1993 to April 1999), 1 May 1999, HND31898.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac375c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A lawyer with the legal aid office at Casa Alianza in Tegucigalpa provided the following information in a 25 May 1999 telephone interview. Casa Alianza is an organization dedicated to children's rights and provides services to street children.
The Children's Court (Juzgado de la Niñez), previously known as the Juzgado de Menores, was set up under the Child and Adolescent Code (Codigo de la Niñez y de la Adolescencia) in 1996 to protect children and adolescents, and to apply the domestic laws and international treaties dealing with children's rights. The court operates under the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) and functions like a tribunal which can investigate cases of abandoned children, abused children, or children considered "in danger," and judge cases of minors charged with offences.
In terms of filing a complaint for a mistreated child, a parent, guardian or intervening organizations such as Casa Alianza or the government institute for children, Instituto Nacional de la Niñez, may submit a written complaint to the Children's Court, which will then process the complaint. In cases of minors accused of an offence, a public prosecutor has 30 days to demonstrate that the minor has committed a crime. This period of time may be extended for an additional 30 days.
According to the lawyer, there are Children's Courts in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, El Progreso, Santa Rosa de Copán and Choluteca. The lawyer added that there is no Children's Court in the municipality of El Porvenir, Department of Franciso Morazán.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Casa Alianza, Tegucigalpa. 25 May 1999. Telephone interview with a lawyer.
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America NewsPak [Austin]. September 1996-December 1996.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. September 1996-December 1996.
La Prensa [San Pedro Sula]. 1996-1999.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1996-1999.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, NEXIS/LEXIS, Internet and WNC.