US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1432

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001432 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR DRL/MLA, STATE FOR IO/SHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, HO, CHR-1 
SUBJECT: PROMPT RATIFICATION OF CAT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL, 
DEMANDS CENTER AGAINST TORTURE 
 
1. At an event in commemoration of the International Day in 
Support of Victims of Torture, the Center for Prevention, 
Treatment, and Rehabilitation for Victims of Torture (CPTRT) 
called for prompt ratification of the 2002 Optional Protocol 
(OP) to the Convention Against Torture.  The OP mandates a 
system of inspection visits for detention centers of various 
kinds.  President of the Congress and National Party 
presidential candidate Porfirio Lobo Sosa spoke briefly of 
his opposition to torture and joined the call for the 
Presidential Palace to quickly send the OP to the Congress 
for ratification.  Orles Solis, President of the National 
Congress' Commission on Human Rights, says there is already 
consensus in the Congress that the ratification should 
proceed.  Fellow speaker and presidential advisor on security 
Ramon Romero assured the audience and other speakers that the 
OP would proceed as it should through the ratification 
process. 
 
2.  The event's panel of speakers consisted of: 
--Alba de Mejia, Associate Director of the CPTRT 
--Orles Solis, President of the National Congress Commission 
on Human Rights 
--Kim Buldoc, Resident Coordinator of the UN Human Rights 
Program in Honduras 
--Andres Pavon, Director of the Committee for the Defense of 
Human Rights in Honduras 
--Ramon Romero, Presidential Advisor on Security 
Palmer