HONDURAN COMMITTEE FOR PEACE ACTION (COHAPAZ)

HONDURAN COMMITTEE FOR PEACE ACTION (COHAPAZ) is a grass-roots, community-based peace action group that was formed in the early 1980's amid the strife of Contra incursions into Honduras and the domination of United States military and strategic interests over the interests of the Honduran people. Through his position as co-chair of COHAPAZ, Dr. Juan Almendares has helped to organize protest movements against transnational companies that impinge upon and disrupt the lives of Hondurans by polluting the environment, land-grabbing, and political maneuvering. He led the protests in 2001 against the explosive growth of transnational gold mining companies that were illegally appropriating the lands of the peasants while polluting the waters with cyanide used for mining gold ore. COHAPAZ is on the front of most peace movement actions in Honduras, unafraid to confront the military, political and economic powers-that-be.

COHAPAZ Website

Although not a direct recipient of Enable International efforts, the Center for the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and their Relatives (CPTRT) is the third non-governmental organization that requires Dr. Almendares’ skills, effort and time, and therefore should be mentioned. CPTRT provides supportive services for Hondurans that have experienced torture, family disappearances and displacement. Formed in Tegucigalpa by Dr. Almendares in the mid 1990's, CPTRT also focuses on the incarcerated in both the men’s and women’s national penitentiaries. As mentioned in the biography, in 2001 Dr. Almendares received the international Barbara Chester Award for his executive directorship of CPTRT and work with survivors of torture. CPTRT receives financial support from and is reviewed by European donors, in particular the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and DANIDA in Denmark.

Dr. Juan Almendares has helped to organize protest movements against transnational companies that impinge upon and exploit, rather than assist, the lives of Hondurans

Another organization in Honduras that Dr. Almendares helped to form quite recently is Friends of the Earth Honduras, or la Tierra Madre. While Enable International is currently not involved in contributing to this aspect of Dr. Almendares' activities, it is important to recognize this important environmental effort. As an affiliate of Friends of the Earth International, Tierra Madre works to inform and energize Hondurans about ongoing assaults on the Honduran lands, and on the displacement of campesinos living on those lands, by agri-business, lumber exporting companies and internationally-owned mining companies. The destruction of Honduran environment, often supported by the government and the military in the name of profit, continues daily in Honduras. Tierra Madre has paid particular attention to cyanide pollution by mining companies.