WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/03 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission. The rights of street children in Honduras and Guatemala.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU relations, Guatemala, Honduras, child protection, cooperation policy, crime, fight against crime, public safety, social rehabilitation, street children

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/5

(2004/C 88 E/0005)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0086/03

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Killing of children in Honduras

Can the Commission tell me what action, if any, it can take to address the killing of children in Honduras,
following disturbing reports that 64 Honduran children and young people under the age of 23 were
murdered during the month of December 2002?

Can the Commission please detail what aid it has offered or can offer and what practical steps it is taking
or will take to stop the random murders of children and young people throughout the country, as there is
evidence that the Honduran Government has not been able to protect its nation’s children despite their
promises to do so?

(2004/C 88 E/0006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/03

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: The rights of street children in Honduras and Guatemala

Despite widespread international condemnation, street children in Honduras and Guatemala continue to
live in fear of persecution. Since January 1998 at least 1450 young people have been murdered in
Honduras, 47 in October 2002 alone. Fifteen murder cases involving policemen have been given to the
special
investigative team which the Honduran Minister of Public Security set up in September.
I understand that not one of the 15 cases has reached a conviction.

Can the Commission describe what support the EU is giving to the authorities in Honduras and Guatemala
as well as other civil actors in terms of educational projects, residential programmes and job skills training
for street children in order to help them to reintegrate into society? What attempts are being made to
assist the authorities in bringing to justice those responsible for murders and harassment of street children?
Has the Commission considered pressing the authorities on the importance of campaigns to promote
tolerance within the wider community?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0086/03 and E-0097/03
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Widespread criminality continues to be of particular concern in spite of the efforts of the Honduran
Government to deploy every possible means to tackle this problem. This reflects high levels of poverty and
a lack of opportunities for the younger generations. Many of the murders of children and young people
are reported in clashes between gangs. However, there are reports accusing security officers of being
involved in some killings of children and young people, although, it has been accepted that these officers
do not act on State orders nor does the killing of street children constitute State policy.

To address this issue, the Commission is supporting: the efforts of the relevant independent bodies in
Honduras carrying out investigations on security officers allegedly involved in killings of children and
young people; and the policies aimed at reducing poverty levels and vulnerability of young people through
improved education, health and employment opportunities.

The Commission has followed closely the results of the report by United Nations special rapporteur
Jahangir and largely shares its conclusions, although the Commission is not convinced that
the
establishment of a special ombudsman for children, as proposed in the United Nations report, should be
given priority. On grounds of greater efficiency, a possible alternative would be granting increased

C 88 E/6

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

competence for human resources and training to the Honduran Commissioner for Human Rights who
under present conditions is competent on the issue. The creation of a special ombudsman could limit the
powers of the Honduran Commissioner for the Human Rights which have been very hard to achieve in a
young democracy like Honduras.

The Commission through a series of programmes is trying to reduce poverty, in particular for sensitive
groups, by helping the government implement its Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP). Apart
from a large part of programmes aimed at improving social
infrastructure (medical centres, schools,
houses, water and sanitation) and environment, a special programme to boost reform in secondary
education worth EUR 28 million is in preparation in close cooperation with the Inter-American Bank of
Development.

Concerning Guatemala, the Commission is aware of the conditions of neglected children, as well as the
increasing wave of violence and intimidation in the country. In line with the resolution on human rights in
Guatemala that the Parliament adopted in April 2002, the Commission is endeavouring to use the various
mechanisms at its disposal to influence this situation.

The Commission and Member States maintain a regular dialogue with the Guatemalan Government and
representatives of civil society on the importance of promoting the well-being of all Guatemalan people on
the basis of the full implementation of the Peace Accords signed in 1996. Within this framework, the
Commission constantly urges the local public institutions to discourage and investigate any infringement
of human rights or attacks against human rights activists.

The Commission has been supporting concrete cooperation actions in favour of children and their families
in sectors such as health, education, fight against drugs and gender promotion. The Commission has also
achieved positive results in several specific initiatives in support of young people and street children, which
have been carried out by local non-governmental organisations.

In addition, in the framework of co-operation set by the Peace Accords, the Commission is encouraging
the Guatemalan authorities, the National Police Force and the judiciary system to prevent any action
against the rule of law. This programme will be complemented within the next few months by means of a
specific initiative aimed at strengthening the judiciary system.

Finally, Guatemala is a focus country for Latin America in the framework of the ‘EU Initiative for Human
Rights and Democracy’ (EIHRD) for the period 2002-2004.

(2004/C 88 E/0007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0238/03

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2003)

Subject: Clarification of the status of the Northern Dimension in the EU budget

In his reply to Question E-3670/01 (1), Commissioner Patten stated: ‘The Commission is in general against
the creation of small thematic or specialised small budget lines, which hinder effective management of the
Community budget.’

In view of this, I should appreciate it if the Commission could clarify a number of points. Does the
Commission regard the Northern Dimension as ‘thematic’? Ought the MEDA programme therefore likewise
to be regarded as thematic? Are not the Northern Dimension and MEDA EU common programmes?

What does the Commission mean by ‘effective management of the Community budget’? Is it not precisely
in budget lines whose scope is broad that fraud occurs?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 19.