The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
On April 25, Administrator Samantha Power and Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Reina discussed shared priorities and ongoing collaboration to address the root causes of irregular migration, including by creating economic opportunities, strengthening democratic governance, and addressing violence against women.
Administrator Power and Minister Reina engaged in an in-depth discussion of the Castro Administration’s anti-corruption agenda and progress, the critical work of the National Anti-Corruption Council, and recent developments such as the repeal of a secrecy law that kept the public from accessing government budget information. Administrator Power noted the strong support of the United States for the creation of the United Nations-backed Commission against Corruption in Honduras, and discussed with Minister Reina opportunities for USAID to further support President Castro’s efforts to tackle systemic corruption and the development of independent, credible institutions that can provide accountability and equality before the law for all Hondurans.
Administrator Power and Minister Reina also discussed how working together on these and other activities will support the United States-Honduras Strategic Dialogue, which was held yesterday, and which was agreed upon by Honduran President Xiomara Castro and Vice President Kamala Harris following the Vice President’s visit to Tegucigalpa for President Castro’s historic inauguration as Honduras’s first female president in January 2022.
Administrator Power underscored that protecting human rights is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and discussed with Minister Reina the continued commitment of the U.S. to push for full accountability for those involved with murder of human rights defender Berta Cáceres.