WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2803/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Human Rights in Honduras
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATTS
Subjects: Honduras, abandoned child, child protection, children's rights, crime against individuals, human rights, imprisonment, non-governmental organisation

17. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 82/143

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 1997)

The  Community  does  not  finance  any  of  the  modifications  being  carried  out  at  present  in  the  Temelin
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nuclear power plant (NPP) and therefore has no information about details of work being performed in this plant.
Moreover and more in general, it would like to indicate that through the Phare programme it provides support to
the Czech nuclear safety authority, the State office for nuclear safety (SONS). This support includes general
methodology transfer and, in the case of the Temelin NPP, a contract is under preparation in order to support the
SONS during the licensing process.

The Commission will continue the support to SONS, in order to ensure that an independent and competent

2.
body is responsible for the licensing of the plant.

The Commission is aware of the vote of the Austrian parliament. In this connection, it refers to the relevant

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part of the Commission(cid:146)s opinion on the Czech Republic of 16 July 1997 (1).

(1)  COM(97) 2009.

(98/C 82/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2803/97

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Human Rights in Honduras

Is the Commission aware of the current atrocities taking place in Honduras which have resulted in the murder of
at least two street children?

What action is the Commission taking to ensure that full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is
observed in Honduras in accordance with national laws and international standards?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1997)

The Commission is aware of Honduras(cid:146)s problems with street children and children in custody.

With  regard  to  the  imprisonment  of  children  in  adult  gaols,  the  Commission  believes  that  the  Honduran
government is doing what it can to resolve the problem.

The Commission has acceded to a request for help. It did so all the more readily because the government has
made clear its intention to take effective action to ensure proper treatment for children in custody and resolve the
problems associated with street children.

The project in question, which will soon be under way, involves schemes aimed at gaining a better understanding
of the issues involved and finding solutions for street children. Activities include the strengthening of institutions
dealing with children, e.g. the National Council for Social Welfare and the Supreme Court, prevention schemes
and  measures  to  boost  the  capacity  to  help  of  NGOs  working  with  street  children.  The  project  specifically
includes measures to disseminate and enforce the recently adopted children(cid:146)s code.

The project is, moreover, wholly consistent with the Honduran government(cid:146)s policy of strengthening the rule of
law. The Commission is therefore convinced that it will be providing the Honduran government with valuable
help in overcoming these problems.