Attachment_6.F_-_USAID_Gender_Analysis.pdf

Document prepared by:

MARITZA S. GUILLEN SOTO, Consultant

Tegucigalpa, Honduras July 2013

GENDER ANALYSIS

USAID/HONDURAS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

2.1. Methodology.

2.2. Objective of Consultancy

III. GENERAL CONTEXT

3.1. Economic Context

3.2. Political Context

3.3 Legal Context

3.4 Cultural Context

IV. SECTOR ANALYSIS OF GENDER ISSUES IN HONDURAS

4.1. Women and the Workplace

4.2. Women and Maternal Mortality

4.3. Women and HIV/AIDS

4.4. Women and Education

4.5. Women and Agriculture

4.6. Women and Citizen Security

4.7. Women and Governance / Political Participation

4.8. Women and Gender Advocacy

V. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRATEGY AND PROJECT DESIGN

5.1 Recommendations for USAID/HONDURAS 2014-2018 CDCS

5.2 Recommendations for Mainstreaming Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Project Design

ANNEXES

1. Bibliography

2. Definitions

3. Gender Equity Data

4. Tools and Results Obtained during Staff Consultations.

5. Overview of the Honduran Health System

LIST OF ACRONYMS

AACID International Cooperation Andalusia Agency for Development CIDA Canadian International Development Agency ACHR American Convention on Human Rights CEB Basic Education Centers CCEPREB Community Center Preschool Education CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CEDOH Honduras Documentation Center CEDAW Convention on Eradication of all Forms of Discrimination against Women CESAMO Medical & Dental Health Centers CESAR Rural Health Centers CLIPER Peripheral Health Clinics MCC Maternal & Child Clinics IACHR Inter-American Commission on Human Rights CIPRODEH Center of Investigation and Promotion of Human Rights CVR Commission of Truth and Reconciliation NBC National Basic Curriculum COMMCA The Council of Ministers of Central American Women CONASIDA National AIDS Care Committee CVR Commission of Truth and Reconciliation ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ENAPREAH National Strategy for the Prevention of Pregnancy in Adolescents ENDESA National Demography and Health Survey ENESF National Survey of Epidemiology and Family Health EOC Emergency Oral Contraception EPHPM Permanent Household Multipurpose Survey TSE Supreme Electoral Tribunal PRS Poverty Reduction Strategy GE&WE Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment GDI Gender Development Index GDP Gross Domestic Product IDB Inter-American Development Bank IHNFA Honduran Institute for Children and Families IHSS Honduran Social Security Institute INAM National Women’s Institute

INE National Statistics Institute INMER Mortality Research of Childbearing Age Women and Maternal Mortality ITS Sexually Transmitted Infections LEB Life Expectancy at Birth LGBTII Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, And Bisexual MDG Millennium Development Goals NMS National Micronutrients Survey PAIA Program for Integral Care to Adolescents II PIEGH Honduras II Equality and Equity Gender Plan EAP Economically Active Population ECLA Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean PEGAH Honduras the Agricultural Sector Gender Equity Policy PENSIDA National Strategic Plan SAG Secretary of Agriculture SANAA National Autonomous Service of Aqueducts and Sewers SECPLAN Secretary of Planning SEFIN Secretary of Finance SISNAM System of Social Indicators of Children, Adolescence, and Women SESAL Secretary of Health UNAH National Autonomous University of Honduras UNDP/PNUD United Nations Development Program UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UPNFM National Pedagogic University Francisco Morazán WAP Working-Age Population

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this gender analysis is to provide information about gender equity in Honduras to be included in USAID’s 2014-2019 Country Development and Cooperation Strategy and to facilitate the inclusion of gender-equity as a cross-cutting theme in all of USAID/Honduras’s programs. USAID’s 2012 Gender Equity and Women´s Empowerment Policy states that gender equality and women´s empowerment are core development objectives, fundamental for the fulfillment of human rights and effective and sustainable development.1 This document provides information on gender equity issues in Honduras, analysis on recent gender equity legislation, and weaknesses and progress in its implementation in order to help USAID/Honduras fulfill these core objectives.

With its severe levels of poverty, Honduras has considerable gender inequalities in obtaining employment, with women and ethnic minorities disproportionately represented. Honduras ranks 120 out of 186 countries listed in the 2012 UNDP Human Development Index, above Haiti, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.2 According 2011 INE data, 64 percent of households headed by women live in poverty, compared to 58.8 percent of households headed by men.3 Both unemployment and underemployment are higher for women than men, and women earn approximately two-thirds as their male counterparts in similar occupations4.

Violence and crime, which includes gender-based violence, is the most destructive social problem in Honduras today. Honduras exceeds the region in terms of having one of the highest murder rates in the world, with on average 86 deaths per every 100,000 people. This rate is more than ten times the world average. Honduras’ neighbors also have high rates of violence, especially El Salvador (72) and Guatemala (39). The United Nations Organization (UN) reports that 1 of every 50 Central American youth under 20 years will be murdered before the age of 32.5

The country also has one of the highest femicide rates in Latin America. According to the Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), from 2005 to 2012 femicide continues to be a growing trend, from 175 deaths in 2005 to 606 women deaths in 2012, a 246.3 percent increase in the last seven years. This translates to 51 women murdered each month in 2012, or a death approximately every 15 hours.6

1 USAID POLICY, March 2012. Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy.

2 UNDP 2012 Human Development Index; http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/ 3 National Statistics Institute (INE) 2011. Systems for Social Indicators for Children, Adolescents and Women in Honduras www.ine.gob.hn/sisnam.htm 4 Idem 5 Paredes, Maritza. 2011. How You Weave the Threads of Impunity. Femicides in Honduras. National Campaign Against Femicides. OXFAM, UN-WOMEN.

6 UNAH, Violence Observatory, 2012. Special bulletin on violent deaths of women. College of Social Sciences, University Institute for Democracy, Special Edition No. 9.

http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/ http://www.ine.gob.hn/sisnam.htm

After much support from civil society and international donors over the last decade, Honduras is to be commended for having a legal framework and public policies to promote gender equality and human rights. However, the Government of Honduras’ (GOH) weak implementation of these policies and laws is a continuing weakness in Honduras’ social development. This is especially evident in areas such as prevention and enforcement against violent aggression specifically targeted against women or minorities.

Furthering complicating the implementation of gender equity and human rights was the 2009 constitutional crisis in Honduras. In June 2009, President Zelaya was abruptly removed from office and the ensuing aftermath deepened further decades-long mistrust between various political and economic factions in the country. Civil society organizations (CSOs) protested against the breakdown of the constitutional order and were subsequently suppressed by the military. The suspension of civil freedom and prohibition of political mobilization, strongly impacted on civil organizations and human rights activism, mainly women´s organizations, feminist groups, and lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual groups.

Despite elections and a successful transition to the Lobo administration, disagreement, mistrust, and governance problems stemming from the crisis remain. Women and LGBTII CSOs continue to have weak relationships with GOH agencies which hinder LGBTII ability to dialogue, cooperate, and negotiate on gender inequality issues in the country. Likewise, USAID’s role is weakened by continuing ill-will among some CSOs for U.S. perceived role in 2009 constitutional crisis.

The GOH’s new development strategies have included mentions of gender equity as a cross-cutting issue, yet do not address it specifically. The two strategies are The National Plan (2010-2022)7 and Country Vision (2010-2038), and through these tools the Honduran Government aimed to sustainably reduce poverty, improve equitable economic growth, and develop and enhance human capital. Unfortunately, these documents lacked gender-sensitive indicators and in-depth analysis, so CSOs question whether the GOH will track progress in gender equity initiatives. An example of the GOH’s shortsightedness is found in the agricultural section of the National Plan (2010-2022) and Country Vision (2010-2038). While agriculture is vital to Honduras because it is one of the most important revenue sources for GDP growth and impacts the lives of many below the poverty line. Even though women play an important role in the chain of production, the section lacks specific actions to mitigate existing disparities and long-term actions to create sustainability and gender equity.

Honduras has made progress in increasing the percentage of women in political and economic leadership positions, but there are still significant obstacles to women´s actual participation. Progress at the municipal level has been slower than at the national level, partly

7 Observatory System for Monitoring Millennium Goals/United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 2010. Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

because women face additional burdens when trying to participate in political processes.

Women´s groups continue to advocate for greater women representation.

After conducting a desk review and assessment of USAID/Honduras’ implementation of GE&WE policy in its programs, the following are recommendations to inform the 2014-2018

CDCS:

• RFA/RFPs. Ensure that RFA/RFPs include: a) gender analysis in the preparation phase; b) clear, gender-sensitive indicators; c) requests to disaggregated data by sex and analysis of data.

• Program requirements. Ensure that programs have: a) baselines with gender-sensitive variables; b) staff trained and specialized to promote gender equity and women´s empowerment in all initiatives; c) budget allocations to develop internal and external capabilities with implementing partners.

• Project design. New programs promote a more democratic, gender-sensitive culture so that men and women on equal terms can actively participate in decision-making, especially in the political arena, and enforce accountability.

• Institution building. Strengthen the National Women´s Institute’s capacity to govern the Policy of Gender Equity and Equality in the country and II Gender Equity and Equality Plan.

• Civil society. Strengthen the participation of civil society organizations that advocate or work directly in promoting human rights, specifically women and men in all its diversity.

• International guidelines. Use the recommendations in the Stockholm Declaration, the Paris Declaration, and the MDGs to identifying strategic opportunities to incorporate strategies and affirmative actions for women and to reduce gender inequality and inequity gaps.

• Training. Strengthen gender-sensitive training processes for USAID/Honduras staff and its strategic partners. Build staff´s capacity to effectively integrate gender mainstreaming in all programs and facilitate decision-making processes.

II. INTRODUCTION

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for managing cooperation and assistance programs in more than 100 countries. USAID supports economic growth, health, education, democracy, agriculture, conflict prevention, and provides humanitarian relief in cases of disasters. USAID formulated its Gender Equality and Women´s Empowerment (Gender) Policy in 2012 and it “affirms the crucial role women play in accelerating progress in the development and advancement of global prosperity and security”.8 It also states that gender equality and women´s empowerment are core

8 At: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/spanish/article/2013/01/20130125141476.html#axzz2TmB2lMke http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/spanish/article/2013/01/20130125141476.html%23axzz2TmB2lMke development objectives, fundamental for the realization of human rights and effective and sustainable development.9

USAID´s approach to gender analysis is built on the idea that no society can develop sustainably without increasing and transforming the distribution of opportunities, resources, and options both for women and men to shape their own lives, and asks two key questions:10

1. How do different roles and status of women and men within the community, political sphere, work, and family (for example, the roles in decision-making and different access to and control over resources and services) affect the work done?

2. How do expected results of the work affect women and men differently?

Based on decades of experience, USAID’s policy states that women play critical roles to accelerate progress in the development and promotion of global prosperity and security. It gives particular importance to men and women marginalized or excluded due to ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and lack of income, disability or other factors11. The policy’s vision is shown in Box 1.

2.1. Methodology

This gender evaluation utilizes both qualitative and descriptive methodological techniques, involving primary and secondary sources. The inputs are based from a combination of a desk review and interviews with USAID/Honduras technical staff and implementers. These inputs are the basis of the gender analysis in both a national and programmatic context.

2.2. Objective of Consultancy

This analysis has a two-fold objective:

1. Provide a gender equity analysis of disparities between men and women in Honduras, including regional and international comparisons as context.

9 USAID POLICY, March 2012. Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy.

10 Guide to Gender Integration and Analysis. Additional Help for ADS Chapters 201 and 203 at:

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/201sab.pdf 11 At: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACW014.pdf

Box 1 – Gender Policy Vision USAID’s development vision is a world in which women and men, girls and boys enjoy the economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, and are equally empowered to ensure a better life for themselves, their families, and communities, and are equally able to access quality education and healthcare, build and control their own assets and economic resources, exercise their own voice, and live free of intimidation, harassment, discrimination, and violence. That responsibilities for income-generation and care of family members are not limited by the roles and stereotypes defined by society for men and women. Women and men, girls and boys are treated with respect, dignity, freely and equally participating in decision-making at the national, regional, and local level of economic and social levels. That the unique experience, initiatives, leadership, and contribution of women and girls are recognized and supported by individuals and governments, leading to their economic, social, and political empowerment.1 USAID Policy on Gender Equality and Female Empowerment. March 2012.

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/201sab.pdf http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACW014.pdf

2. Analyze gender limitations for the participation and access of men and women to resources in the areas in which USAID/Honduras is currently working, including but not limited to: food security, economic development, the environment, climate change and adaptation, provision of basic health services, HIV/AIDS prevention, crime prevention, basic and technical/professional education, and promotion of civil society.

III. GENERAL CONTEXT

Based on demographic data, the typical Honduran, on average, is a woman from a rural area under the age of 18.

Honduras has a slim percentage of more women than men, 51 percent versus 49.3 percent, for a population about 8.4 million in 2012. A slight majority of the population resides in rural areas (55 percent) and almost half of the population (48.7 percent) is under the age of

18.12 Honduras’ population has grown about two percent

(2011 data).

Women have a higher expected life expectancy at birth than men in Honduras and in the region in general.

According to the UN Population data (see Table 1), the general life expectancy at birth for Honduras is 73.1 years, and 75.6 for women and 71.0 for men.13 Honduras falls slightly below the average for the region (74.0), behind Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. For the region, women have higher life expectancy than men and Honduras’ results are below the regional average for both sexes. Scholars cite several key factors for the differences between genders, such as the men’s higher exposure to risk-factors faced by the men in a “macho” culture, including violence and alcohol and drug abuse.

The number of women headed households has increased in Honduras over the last decade.

According to the 2012-2013 ENDESA, women headed households accounted for 28 percent of all households, an increase from 26 percent in the 2005-2006 survey and 21 percent in the 2001 National Epidemiology and Family Health Survey. These households are more commonly found in urban areas (34 percent vs. 22 percent).

The average Honduran household has decreased slightly in recent years, especially in rural areas. In urban areas, the number dropped slightly to 4.2 in 2012-2013 from 4.4 in 2005-2006.

In rural areas, the drop was more considerable, falling from 5.2 to 4.7 during the same period.

12 National Statistics Institute (INE) 2011.

13 Gender, Health, and Development in the Americas, Basic Indicators, 2011. OPS, UNFPA, UN-Women, ECLA. At:

http://paho.org/gdr

Table No. 1 Life Expectancy at Birth (in years), by sex, Central America and Dominican

Republic, 2010-2015.

Countries Total Male Female

Belize 71.8 69.5 74.2

Costa Rica 79.4 77.0 81.9

El Salvador 72.9 69.8 76.0

Guatemala 71.4 67.9 75.0

Honduras 73.1 70.7 75.6

Nicaragua 74.5 71.5 77.7

Panama 76.3 73.7 79.1 Dominican Republic 73.2 70.2 76.5

AVERAGE 74.1 71.3 77.0

Source: ECLAC Demographic Observatory No. 3 Population Projection.

http://paho.org/gdr

Most households (67 percent) have between three and six members, with rural areas more likely to have more than six members than urban areas (19 percent versus 12 percent).

3.1 Economic Context

Honduras’ economic development is hindered by persistent poverty. Honduras ranks low in the region in terms of human development according to the UN Human Development Index.

At 120 out of 182 countries, only Haiti, Nicaragua and Guatemala have lower ranks for the Latin American region. According to the 2012 INE household survey results, an estimated 51 percent of the population is living below the poverty line.14 As shown below in Graph 1, Honduras’ poverty rates lead the region, with women slightly more poor than men, yet both higher than the others shown in the table.

Graph 1

Source: CEPAL (2010). Social Panorama for Latin America 2010 Note: 1/ 2006 data 2/ 2007 data 3/ 2005 data.

Women are particularly disadvantaged in the face of persistence poverty. According to the UN’s composite Gender Development Index (GDI), Honduras ranked 100th among 148th countries in 2012. This low score is underscored by the following statistics. It is estimated that 100 women in the country die from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births, and the adolescent fertility rate is 85.9 births per 1,000 live births. Although about one-fifth (20.7 percent) of adult women have attained at least secondary education, as compared to 18.8

14 National Statistics Institute (INE) 2011.

POBREZA

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El S alv ad or

Gua temala/1

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Nica ragu a/3

Pan am á

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Dom inica na

PAIS

PO

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EN

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Total Hombres Mujeres percent of men, female participation in the labor market is half of men’s participation (42.3 vs.

82.8 percent for men).15

Women in Honduras are over-represented among the poor. According 2012 INE data, of the

1.8 million households, 31.9 percent are headed by women, an increase from 20.6 percent in

1988.16 Among the women-headed households, a larger proportion (almost two-thirds or 64 percent) are poor than is for men-headed households (58.5 percent). The Inter-American Development Bank also examined this issue for urban households and found similar trends. Of the total urban women-headed households in 2005-2007, one-third (34 percent) were extremely poor, another third (35 percent) were poor, and the remaining 34 percent were classified as non-poor.17

Table No. 2 Central America and Dominican Republic Households by Household Heads

By Gender (2009) in Poverty, Extreme Poverty, or Homeless.

Country Poverty Extreme Poverty / Indigent

Total Male Female Total Male Female Costa Rica 18.5 16.7 22.5 5.4 3.9 8.6 El Salvador 42.3 39.9 46.5 12.8 12.1 14.0 Guatemala/1 42.0 42.1 41.7 14.8 14.9 14.5 Honduras/2 56.9 56.7 57.5 26.2 26.4 25.6 Nicaragua/3 54.4 54.5 54.1 20.8 20.1 21.8 Panama 16.3 14.7 19.8 4.6 3.5 7.2 Dominican Rep. 39.3 34.6 49.5 19.4 15.4 28.0 Source: ECLAC (2010). Social View Latin America 2010 1/ 2006 data. 2/ 2007 data. 3/ 2005 data.

The UN ECLAC conducted a 2010 regional analysis of poverty in the Central America and examined the incidence of poverty on female-headed households (see Table 2). Based household data, Honduras had a higher poverty incidence rate than its neighbors at 56.9 percent. In contrast to other studies, the ECLAC study found that male-headed and female-headed households both comprised a similar percentage of poor and extremely poor households in their respective categories. Guatemala and Nicaragua also exhibited similar percentages, while the differences were most pronounced in El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Several factors account for this situation including the wage gap, higher unemployment and female underemployment, and less time available to devote to paid work due to family responsibilities.18

15 2013 Human Development Report - UNDP. At: www.undp.org/.../honduras/es/.../informe-sobre-desarrollo-humano-2013/ 16 The Ministry of Health, recently released the 2012-2013 population survey (ENDESA). Data from this survey has slight differences from INE’s 2012 data. Head-of-Household definitions could mark the difference. Even though statistically different, both surveys show similar trends in women and poverty.

17 Gender, Health, and Development in the Americas, Basic Indicators, 2011. PAHO, UNFPA, UN-Women, ECLA. At:

http://paho.org/gdr 18 Idem http://paho.org/gdr

Honduras’ minority populations such as indigenous and afro-descendants have greater obstacles in advancing in the predominantly Spanish descendent culture. These populations have lower educational levels, more limited access to social protection, and work predominantly in the informal economy, and are more likely to have incomes below the poverty line. As a result, they usually experience inequality with respect to other groups of society, as well as endure living conditions which prevent them to live in dignity. Women belonging to minority groups face greater obstacles to overcome poverty and provide for their families.19

3.2 Political Context

In June 2009, President Zelaya was abruptly removed from office and the ensuing aftermath deepened further decades-long mistrust between various political and economic factions in the country. Civil society organizations (CSOs) protested against the breakdown of the constitutional order and were subsequently suppressed by the military. The suspension of civil freedom and prohibition of political mobilization, strongly impacted on civil organizations and human rights activism, mainly women´s organizations, feminist groups, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups.

Despite elections and a successful transition to the Lobo administration, disagreement, mistrust, and governance problems stemming from the crisis remain. According to LAPOP 2013 citizen perception surveys, the results indicated a significant deterioration in the political system and democracy and a reduction in the satisfaction with the democratic system, since the 2009 political crisis.20 Women and LGBT CSOs continue to have weak relationships with GOH agencies which hinder LGBT ability to dialogue, cooperate, and negotiate on gender inequality issues in the country. Likewise, USAID’s role is weakened by continuing ill-will among some CSOs for U.S. perceived role in 2009 constitutional crisis.

In light of internal political crisis and the international economic crisis, post-crisis GOH administration adopted a policy of freedom and openness, accompanied by the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS),21 which was funded under a debt alleviation program and the result of a process of consultation between government, civil society, and international donors. The PRS would later be included in The National Plan (2010- 2012).

19 International Labor Office (ILO). Indigenous and Afro-descendants peoples in the region: Towards equal opportunities and decent work.

20 Political culture of democracy in Honduras and in the Americas, 2012: towards equal opportunities.

At: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/honduras/Honduras-2012-Report.pdf 21 The Project for the dissemination of objectives and goals of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) started in October of 2005 and ended in June of 2006 with the support of the Royal Embassy of Netherlands. It developed an intense dissemination campaign at the national level, in order to produce awareness and foster ownership of the PRS content in Honduran citizenship.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/honduras/Honduras-2012-Report.pdf

The GOH’s new development strategies have included mentions of gender equity as a cross-cutting issue, yet do not address it specifically. The two strategies are The National Plan (2010-2022)22 and Country Vision (2010-2038), and through these tools the Honduran Government aimed to sustainably reduce poverty, improve equitable economic growth, and develop and enhance human capital. Unfortunately, these documents lacked gender-sensitive indicators and in-depth analysis, so CSOs question whether the GOH will track progress in gender equity initiatives. An example of the GOH’s shortsightedness is found in the agricultural section of the National Plan (2010-2022) and Country Vision (2010-2038). While agriculture is vital to Honduras because it is one of the most important revenue sources for GDP growth and impacts the lives of many below the poverty line. Even though women play an important role in the chain of production, the section lacks specific actions to mitigate existing disparities and long-term actions to create sustainability and gender equity.

Beginning in 2011, the National Women´s Institute (INAM) and UN-Women have been working with the Secretary of Planning to incorporate gender-sensitive indicators into the National Plan. The International Cooperation Andalusia Agency for Development (AACID) has also provided technical assistance to promote gender equality as cross-cutting theme in projects funded by international donors.

Honduras has pledged to reach the 3rd Millennium Development Goal (MDG) “Promote gender equity and empower women.” The 2010 MDG report indicated that Honduras could meet the MDG3 indicators related to women empowerment if adjustments were made prior to the 2015 deadline. 23As of the writing of this report, the GOH has not made those adjustments. The report also indicates that Honduras is not collecting the necessary data to evaluate the progress related to MDG 5 for improving maternal health.24

Honduras has also made progress in passing pro-women legislation. Beginning in the early 1990s, the GOH established policies and mechanisms to promote women’s rights. These include increasing parity in elementary education attendance and literacy rates. Honduras has made progress in increasing the percentage of women in political and economic leadership positions, but there are still significant obstacles to women´s actual participation. Women occupy approximately one-fifth (19.5 percent) of parliamentary seats. Progress at the municipal level has been slower than at the national level, partly because women face additional burdens when trying to participate in political processes. Women´s groups continue to advocate for greater women representation.

3.3 Legal Context

22 Observatory System for Monitoring Millennium Goals/United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 2010. Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

23 MDG report for Honduras 2010 http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/english/MDG%20Country%20Reports/Honduras/Honduras_MDGRep ort_2010_SP.pdf 24 At: http://www.mdgmonitor.org/country_progress.cfm?c=HND&cd=340 http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/english/MDG%20Country%20Reports/Honduras/Honduras_MDGReport_2010_SP.pdf http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/english/MDG%20Country%20Reports/Honduras/Honduras_MDGReport_2010_SP.pdf http://www.mdgmonitor.org/country_progress.cfm?c=HND&cd=340

Honduras has made considerable progress in devising a legal framework and relevant public policies on gender equality and equity. The challenge remains in their implementation.

Honduras has a National Plan for Gender Equity (PIEG-II) which states gender-equity as a cross-cutting theme in all public ministries and offices. The following is list of existing pro-women legislation:25

25 Guillen Soto, Maritza, 2011. Country Gender Profile: Honduras. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Addressing Social and Political Participation:

• Creation of National Women´s Institute (INAM) Law (1999).

• Political parties and GOH agencies agree to have a thirty percent minimum quota of women in the list of political party’s candidates (2000).

• Law for Equality of Opportunities for Women (2000).

• Law for Access to Land and Agriculture:

Honduran Gender Equity Agro Policy (2000).

• National Plan for Just Employment (2007).

• Policy of Gender Equality and Equity: II PIEGH:

Honduras II Equality and Equity Gender Plan.

National Women´s Policy 2010-2022.26 (See Box 2 for the six components.)

Addressing Violence Against Women:

• Family Code (1984, 1989, 2002).

• Creation of the Special Prosecutor for Women (1994).

• Law Against Domestic Violence and subsequent Amendments (1997; 2005).

• Inclusion of sexual violence crimes to the Penal Code Reform (1997).

• Inclusion of mental health and domestic violence reforms to the National Sexual and

Reproductive Health Policy (1999).

• Creation of the Court Specialized on Domestic Violence (2000).

• Reforms to the Penal Code, which includes crimes against women’s freedom, and physical, psychological, and sexual integrity of persons (2005).

• Reforms to Domestic Violence Law (2006, 2013).

International Agreements:

• Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1980, 1982).

• International Population and Development Conference (1994).

• Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Sanction, and Eradicate Violence against Women, promoted by the Organization of American States (1995).

GOH Policies:

• Gender Equity Policy in the Honduran Agro (2000-2015).

26 Honduras II Equity and Equality Gender Plan. National Women´s Policy 2010-2022

Box 2 – II PIEGH Components Axis 1 Promotion, protection, and guarantee to social and political participation, and exercise of women´s citizenship.

Axis 2 Promotion, protection, and guarantee of the rights of women, girls, and teenagers to peace and a life free of violence.

Axis 3 Promotion, protection, and guarantee of women´s health throughout their life cycle, and sexual and reproductive rights.

Axis 4 Promotion, protection, and guarantee of the right to education, cultural rights and inter-culturalism, and the right to information.

Axis 5 Promotion, protection, and guarantee of economic rights, work, employment, and access to, use and control of resources.

Axis 6 Gender, access, sustainable use, and control of biodiversity, natural resources, and risk management.

• Gender Policy of Natural Resources and Environment (2000-2015).

• Mental Health Policy (2005).

3.4 Cultural Context

Cultural beliefs on equality and the role of women in society also hinder development outcomes. Honduras is a predominantly conservative and patriarchal society which accepts the supremacy of men over women and its customs and traditions often invalidate rights granted to women and girls.

Cultural beliefs are prevalent in women’s health issues. Social resistance by ultra-conservative religious groups towards the promotion of sexual and reproductive rights has had a direct impact on women’s lives. Likewise, cultural rules that give men control of women’s health and restrict women’s ability to negotiate safe and responsible sex are significant factors behind Honduras’ high rates of maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS in women and young adolescents. A 2008-2011 Red Cross study in Copan and Santa Barbara Districts found that the majority of women in the area believe that decisions about family size are their male-partner’s sole responsibility.

Cultural beliefs can be linked to gender-based violence (GBV) and increased social and economic stress can aggravate incidence rates of GBV. Increased attention towards GBV has yielded a greater understanding of the severity of this issue in Honduras. Efforts to examine GBV in Honduras have been hampered by the difficulty in quantifying the magnitude, importance, and vulnerability of the problem in Honduras. Often existing data is not disaggregated by sex and crimes are either not reported or under-reported. Anecdotal and quantitative evidence at the community level suggest that higher incidences of intra-family violence and violence in workplaces, streets, communities, and schools. Sexual harassment is predominantly in schools and work and sexual assault by acquaintances and strangers is most common on the street.27

Cultural definitions of masculinity are being re-evaluated in the traditional machismo Latino cultures in Honduras. Recent studies have stressed the need for new definitions of masculinity which combats traditional stereotypes, prejudices, and attitudes and identifies how traditional conventions have influenced human development. Masculinity is the construction of gender identity in men, through which they learn what it means to be a man, recognizing what society feels should be their roles and behaviors.28 Social changes such as the increase of women in the country’s productive structure, increased access of women to formal education, the recognition of political women´s rights, and the reduction of the average number of children

27 National Plan for Prevention, Detection and Care of Violence Against Women (2006- 2010) In:

http://pdba.georgetown.edu/security/citizensecurity/honduras/documentos/4.pdf 28 Tovar Claudia y Delgado Carol (2010) Men Displaced: Changes in Masculinity, Colombia journal No. 36 http://pdba.georgetown.edu/security/citizensecurity/honduras/documentos/4.pdf per woman, change gender relations, challenges traditional roles of male dominance and can produce a crisis in the construction of gender identity in men.

The Secretary of Health through its Program for Men has promoted new definitions of masculinity through workshops and focal groups. The program addresses the psycho-social dynamic of men and seeks to reduce gender violence against women. This is a new option to create awareness on the issue of gender equality and women´s empowerment.

IV. SECTOR ANALYSIS OF GENDER ISSUES IN HONDURAS

4.1. Women and the Workforce

Economists employ the term “economically active population” (EAP), which are those in the population of working age (16-65) who are either in work or are looking for work, in order to investigate the working population. Based on the EAP definition, Honduras has about 3.3 million in its economically active population.29 In the case of Honduras, most of the working population resides in rural areas (52.9 vs. 47.1 percent) and about one-third (36.1 percent) are women.30 In the urban areas, most are in the two departments, Francisco Morazan and Cortes, and the majority is young, only between the ages of 18 and 24.Women in Honduras also faces discrimination in the workplace. The 2011 INE Household Surveys found that women faced higher rates of unemployment and underemployment than their male counterparts. Women also earned on average about two-thirds as their counterparts in similar occupations.31

The 2012-2013 ENDESA provided a rich analysis of the types of occupations performed by men and women (see Table 3). In general, women in rural and urban areas work primarily in sales and services activities (50.5% urban and 40.8% urban) and men mainly work as non-skilled manual labor (34.4% in urban areas) and in agriculture (66% in rural areas).

29 Labor Market Honduras, 2008. Secretary of Labor and Social Security, Directorate General of Employment. Observatory of the Labor Market. Page 11. At:

http://www.trabajo.gob.hn/oml/oml/Informe%20del%20Mercado%20de%20Trabajo%20Honduras%202008.pdf It is considered that the working-age population, 10 to 65 years, totals 6.3 million people, although the economically active population is only 3.3 million. The working-age population (WAP) is characterized by being young (12-30 years) representing 38.7% (2,976,918) of the total population, and 50.4% EAP. 45.6% of all people employed within the 12-30 age group, have primary education level. WAP is predominantly female as opposed to the EAP who is male.

30 Thirty-ninth Permanent Household Survey, INE. 2010.

31 Honduran women in figures. EPHPM May 2011. At:

http://www.proceso.hn/2012/01/24/Reportajes/Las.mujeres.hondure/47518.html http://www.trabajo.gob.hn/oml/oml/Informe%20del%20Mercado%20de%20Trabajo%20Honduras%202008.pdf http://www.proceso.hn/2012/01/24/Reportajes/Las.mujeres.hondure/47518.html

Table No. 3

Percentage of women aged 15-49 who worked in the 12 months prior to the survey, by occupation and selected characteristics, Honduras 2011-2012

Residence Professional/ Technical /Manager

Office Clerk

Sales and Services

Skilled Manual Labor

Non-skilled Manual Labor

Domestic Service

Agriculture

Female Urban 19.2 6.5 50.5 1.5 11.7 8.5 1.8 Rural 9.2 1.5 40.8 3.4 10.8 8.0 26.1

Male Urban 19.9 1.9 24.9 10.6 34.4 ND 8.2 Rural 4.3 0.5 8.3 7.2 13.3 ND 66.3 Source: ENDESA 2012-2013 ND: No Data

In the case of women’s occupations, at the national level, the most common is in sales and services (47 percent), a 13 percent increase from the previous 2005-2006 survey. Women also have increased in professional / managerial positions, from 11 percent to 15 percent.

Unskilled manual labor and agriculture work both comprise about 11 percent each of the total.

Women working in domestic services dropped by half to 8 percent in the latest survey. In rural areas, women in agricultural work comprise about one-quarter of type of jobs.32

In the case of men’s employment, nationwide, most work either in agriculture (39 percent) and non-skilled manual labor (23 percent).33 In urban areas, men are primarily engaged in non-skilled manual labor (34 percent), followed by sales and services (25 percent). In contrast, men work primarily in agriculture (66 percent) in rural areas, followed by unskilled manual labor (13 percent).

The ENDESA survey confirmed that the education level is crucial to the type of work they perform. Among women with no education, 41% works in sales and services and 37% in agriculture. Three-fourths of men with no education work in the agriculture sector, while 64 percent of men with higher education work as professionals/technicians/managers.

4.2 Women and Maternal Mortality

32 In the rural area, sales and services occupy 51 percent of women working, and 26% working in agriculture. Nine percent works as technical professional or manager. In the departments of Atlantida, Colon, Islas de la Bahia, Valle, and Yoro, the rate of women working in sales and services is 50, 55, 55, 53, and 53 percent respectively.

33 In the departments of Copan, El Paraiso, Intibuca, Lempira, Ocotepeque, and Olancho more than 50 percent of the men work in agriculture, compared to 27 percent in Atlantida and 1 percent in Islas de la Bahia. The lowest percentages are found in the work as office clerks in all departments.

Honduras has made positive steps over the last decade in reducing maternal mortality, but still falls behind in the region in other maternal indicators. Maternal mortality has fallen from 1.43 in 1990 to 0.8 in 201234, although Honduras still faces higher rates than others in the region.

Important for proper pregnancies and for reducing maternal mortality is for the mother to weigh above a certain weight and height standard of 145 centimeters and 40 kilograms. Based on these standards, the 1996 National Micronutrients Survey (NMS) found that 15 percent of women faced medium to high risk due to falling below these standards. Mothers in rural western areas on average weighed less than mothers in other areas, especially urban areas, and thus more likely to fall within medium and high-risk categories.35 Anemia is also a potential risk factor for maternal mortality, premature births, and low birth weights. The 1996 NMS found that 32 percent of pregnant women were anemic. In a 2011-2012 ENDESA, the percentage had fallen to 15 percent to pregnant women.

Troubling has been the rate of teenage pregnancies in Honduras, since teen mothers face higher risk of maternal mortality during pregnancy. Honduras leads the region in teenage pregnancies with about 30 percent of total pregnancies, according to the UNFPA 2012 World Population Situation.36 In 2011-2012 ENDESA 162 women died due to complications during and post-pregnancy.

Fueling the high rate of teenage pregnancies has been the increase in sexual activity among adolescent. According to 2011-2012 ENDESA, 21.5 percent of women aged 15-19 have been pregnant once. The 2011-2012 ENDESA reported that on a national level, the average onset of sexual activity for women is 18.4 years and 16 for men. However, education levels significantly impact these averages, with women with low levels of education beginning on average at 16.7 years, while women with high levels of education delaying until on average 22.7 years of age.

Complicating efforts to reduce teen pregnancy has been lack of health services in rural areas and conservative beliefs towards contraception. More than half (57.1 percent) of adolescents live in rural areas and lack open and broad access to sexual and reproductive health services.37 In 2009 Congress passed a law which prohibits the use of emergency oral contraception in all situations including, rape. The law also makes it a criminal offense to provide counseling on or prescribe this type of contraception. Women’s rights advocacy groups are seeking to overturn this law, declaring oral emergency contraception a non-negotiable right for women, yet have been unsuccessful.

34 Ministry of Health Report on Reasons for Maternal Mortality 2010 35 National Survey on Micronutrients, Honduras, 1996.

36 UNFPA report “World Population Status 2012” UNFPA. At: http://www.unfpa.or.cr/estado-de-la-poblacion-mundial-2012 37 Children in Honduras, Situation Analysis 2010. Tegucigalpa, MDC, May 2011 UNICEF Honduras. At:

http://www.unicef.org/honduras/Sitan_-_Analisis_de_Situacion-_Honduras_2010_2.pdf http://www.unfpa.or.cr/estado-de-la-poblacion-mundial-2012

Given the high maternal mortality rates, the GOH has enacted rules and procedures to equip health clinics in reducing mortality. Enacted initially in 1991, the MOH’s National Program for Women’s Integral Care provides guidance for family planning, menstruation issues, and infertility care. The Program was updated in 2009 based on data from the 2005-2006 ENDESA and has been renamed as the Family Planning Methodological Strategy.38 This program has provided better instruction and additional support towards making maternal mortality a nationwide health priority. The MOH also established the Municipal Program of Friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, which established specialized health units that provide counseling services to prevent early pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and care for teenage mothers care.39

The GOH’s efforts have led to progress in encouraging women to seek prenatal care.

According to 2011-2012 ENDESA 97 percent of women had sought prenatal care within the last five years of delivery.40 This has increased by 5 percent as of 2006. Deliveries using health care services have also increased from 67 percent in 2005-2006 to 83 percent in 2010-2012.

However, the GOH has further work to address health issues post-pregnancy in the area of early child development. Chronic malnutrition among children under five is further complicated when mothers lack proper education. Among children under five, 14 .6 percent in urban areas and 28.8 percent in rural areas suffer from chronic malnutrition. Almost half (48 percent) of all children suffering from stunting, or delayed growth in children due to malnutrition, have mothers with no education and 32 percent of them have mothers with chronic malnutrition themselves.41

4.3 Women and HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS rates in Honduras are on average similar to rates in the region. National HIV prevalence rate is .08 percent buy specific high-risk groups are disproportionately affected by HIV, with group prevalence rates ranging from 4 to 15 percent.42 In 2011-2012 ENDESA reports there are about 31,000 living with HIV. The 2007 MOH report states that HIV is more commonly found among men (58.2 percent) than women (41.8 percent). About one-tenth (12.9 percent) were among those between 15 and 25 years of age. About 13 percent (12.9) were among those between 15 and 25.43 However, the rates may be higher due to low testing rates for HIV. Almost three-fourths (72.4 percent) of women between 15 and 29 had not been

38 ENDESA 2012-2013

39 Ídem.

40 idem 41 ENDESA 2012-2013. The report, which also includes figures on fertility and its determinants; family planning, reproductive health, child health, breastfeeding and nutrition, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices in HIV/AIDS, was sponsored by the U.S. and other agencies as the United Nations and the Government of Honduras.

42 Global Fund draft anayisis, Match 2013 43 Secretary of Health, 2007. UNFPA bulletin, Population and Reproductive Health, June 2010.

tested for HIV, and only 4.2 percent reported using condoms as a means of protection against

HIV/AIDS.44

The GOH’s response has been to coordinate its efforts with the National AIDS Care Committee (CONASIDA) through the National Strategic Plan PENSIDA III (2008-2012). PENISDA III concentrates on eleven priority populations, which include adolescents, Garifuna.

International donors, such as the United Nation agencies (UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP), and PAHO have provided technical and financial support through a joint program led by ONUSIDA.

Similarly, USAID, the World Bank and various CSOs have coordinated their efforts with these other donors.

LGBTI organizations in Honduras have played an active role in the promotion and dissemination of information for HIV management and prevention. Organizations such as ONUSIDA, PAHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, along with the Secretary of Health have special programs within the National AIDS Care Committee (CONASIDA) framework to provide medical and psychological assistance and support. Honduras also has Sentinel Surveillance Clinics for Sexually Transmitted Infections (VICITS), which are clinics based in the major cities focused on the prevention and control of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV for men who have sex with other men (MSM) and transgender populations. Eight LGBTI organizations are registered with GOH, which are as follows: Association Kukulcan, Association Colectivo Violeta, Association LGBT Arcoiris de Honduras, and APUVIMEH in Tegucigalpa; OPROUCE in La Ceiba;

CEPRES, Gay Community Sampedrana, and Colectivo Unidad Color Rosa in San Pedro Sula.

4.4. Women and Education Teaching is predominantly a women’s occupation and has always been a culturally acceptable choice for women given that it’s a social activity linked to reproductive activity and care. As shown below in Table 4, women dominate teaching positions with more than 70.3 percent on average. The percentages are higher in the earlier education levels and no significant difference between rural and urban areas.

44 ENDESA: National Demography and Health Survey. 2005-2006.

Table No. 4 Total Number of Positions per Sex, Location, and School, 2012.

DESCRIPTION

RURAL % URBAN % TOTAL %

F M F M F M

PREBASIC-CCEPREB 82 18 82 18 82 18

PREBASIC-KINDERGARTENS 89 11 95 5 92 8

BASIC 79 21 67 33 73 27

MIDDLE 58 42 56 44 58 42

BASIC ADULTS 66 34 68 32 66 34

TOTAL GENERAL 70 30 70 30 70 30

Source: Secretary of Education Information System.

Honduras has made significant progress in reaching gender equity in national levels of education. As shown below, according to 2012 data, the ratio has been almost parity at the lower levels of education before exhibiting greater discrepancies at higher levels, especially at the middle school level. At the middle school level, female participation increased significantly from 49 percent to 54 percent, but returns to similar levels at the “basic adult” level. The greater participation level at middle school leads to an overall higher percentage of female enrollment over male enrollment overall, with 50.5 percent for female versus 49.5 percent for male.

Despite the parity at the early levels of education, researchers are considered that the ratio is not skewed more towards girls due to demographic data.