As part of the commemoration of the 229th anniversary of the Garífuna people’s arrival in Honduras, the Organization for Ethnic Community Development (ODECO) convened a National Assembly of Leaders and Representatives of Afro-Honduran Communities. The result was a forceful political and cultural position paper, read today in San José de la Punta, which summarizes decades of exclusion and structural racism and outlines specific demands for the new 2026–2030 government term.
The text, endorsed by communities such as Plaplaya, Sambo Creek, Corozal, Cusuna, Iriona Viejo, and Batalla, among others, warns that “the prevailing situation in our communities is marked by social exclusion, institutionalized racism, and racial discrimination, which produce and exacerbate conditions of marginalization and invisibility.” Added to this are the effects of climate change, forced displacement due to land invasions, and “the accelerated and exponential migration abroad of Garifuna people of working age.”
Community leaders noted that the Afro-descendant presence in Honduras dates back to the 15th century, and that the 1821 Act of Independence itself, in its fourth section, established the representation of deputies “without excluding those of African origin from citizenship.” However, they denounced that “there has been no willingness on the part of the executive branch to establish a close dialogue with Garífuna communities and their grassroots organizations.”
On the cultural front, the statement calls for “initiatives aimed at preserving, documenting, and reviving spiritual rituals, traditional medicines, and all teachings related to the Garifuna worldview and culture.” They also request the designation of a geographical indication for Garifuna communities and the strengthening of Intercultural Bilingual Education.
One of the most politically charged and urgent points in the document is the demand for “the reinstatement of the Secretariat of State for the Development of Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Peoples (SEDINAFROH),” and for the restoration of “attention to and implementation of actions for our peoples from an intersectional perspective.” They also propose that the State officially recognize ODECO as “the representative organization of the people, due to its legitimacy and capacity for coordination.”
Regarding lands and territories, the leaders were emphatic: “The State, through its government institutions, has a historical debt to our people, particularly regarding the titling, expansion, regularization, and protection of our ancestral lands and territories.” They demand compliance with the rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favor of communities such as Triunfo de la Cruz, Punta Piedra, and Cayos Cochinos, and that this jurisprudence be extended to all 48 Garífuna communities.
They also demand “free access to our coastal marine resources based on our customary rights” and the passage of a special law guaranteeing the exclusive use of the 12-nautical-mile zone for artisanal fishing, “managed by the community.” They point out that “community-based management is the most effective barrier against the degradation of reefs and seagrass beds.”
On the environmental front, they demand the delineation of micro-watersheds, a ban on logging near water sources, the implementation of reforestation campaigns, and the establishment of early warning systems for natural disasters. Furthermore, they reaffirm the need to accede to the Escazú Agreement and to respect ILO Convention 169 and the Nagoya Protocol.
The document does not overlook the diaspora: “On this April 12, we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who have had to emigrate in search of better living conditions […] we ask the Honduran government to include our communities in initiatives supporting Honduran migrants abroad, as well as to focus efforts on dignified reintegration processes.”
Finally, the community leaders committed to following up on each proposal through a technical committee and sent a direct message to President-elect Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah: “The Afro-Honduran people, especially the Garífuna communities, are your strategic partners in the efforts to transform Honduras; we are capable of developing proposals and making commitments, but we demand to be heard and included in the government’s agenda.”
The statement concludes with a phrase that captures the spirit of the assembly: “We seek voices to break the silence.”