Honduran 2001 Murder Case Filed in Human Rights Court

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) filed the case of a Honduran man, murdered in 2001 as a congressional candidate, to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for investigation on Tuesday.

Angel Pacheco Leon was murdered on Nov. 23, 2001 when he was a candidate for the Honduran National Congress, but the case has long been met with impunity.

#Honduras incumplió con debida diligencia en caso de asesinato de Ángel León Pacheco. El caso, a la @CorteIDH: https://t.co/F8C39h3Y9r

— CIDH (@CIDH) November 17, 2015

“Honduras failed to do its due diligence in the case of the murder of Angel Pacheco.”

IACHR said that Honduras has not fulfilled its obligation to do due diligence in the case with a proper investigation, citing “serious” irregularities in the investigation and various barriers in the process.

ANALYSIS: From Reagan to Obama: Forced Disappearances in Honduras

The commission also said that the evidence points to the possibility of Honduran state agent involvement in the case.

“The state cannot defend its breach of the task to investigate and, in this case, the mentioned evidence enables establishing liability of the Honduran government for what happened to the victim,” said IACHR.

#Honduras no investigó participación de agentes estatales en asesinato de Ángel León Pacheco. Caso a la @CorteIDH: https://t.co/F8C39hlz0Z

— CIDH (@CIDH) November 18, 2015

“Honduras did not investigate the participation of state agents in the murder of Angel Pacheco.”

IACHR dubbed the case a violation of Pacheco Leon’s political rights and rights to life and personal integrity.

ANALYSIS: Honduran Democracy Still in Crisis 6 Years After Coup

Honduras has seen a major spike in violence and murder rates, including political violence, in the wake of the 2009 coup d’etat against former President Manuel Zelaya. Due to the systemic impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of rights violations, victims and their families often do not see justice served.

WATCH: Honduras: Militarization, Homicides, and Repression on the Rise