acts could amount to crimes against 2. “Haiti: Authorities must protect relatives of murdered journalist and humanity. activist from death threats”, 6 August 3. Mexico: Mass Deportations Must Stop (Index: AMR 41/4790/2021), 30 September REFUGEES’ AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS During the year, tens of thousands of Haitians 4. USA: Stop US Abuses against Haitian People (Index: AMR made their way overland, often taking 51/4773/2021), 23 September dangerous routes, including through the 5. Haiti: Stop US Deportations and Abuse against Haitians on the Move: Darien Gap jungle, to reach Mexico and the An Urgent Step Towards Creating Just Policies for Haitians (Index: AMR 36/5101/2021), 15 December USA. However, both countries implemented 6. Haiti: Not Safe Anywhere: Haitians on the Move Need Urgent policies and practices that limited access to International Protection (Index: AMR 36/4920/2021), 28 October international protection, and continued mass 7. “Where do you go when nowhere will welcome you?: States must detentions and unlawful forced returns to protect thousands of Haitians on the move. This is how”, 16 Haiti, Mexico and Guatemala, placing the December lives and physical integrity of thousands of Haitians at risk.3 In September, images HONDURAS emerged of US border authorities on horseback abusing and taunting Haitians, which provoked widespread condemnation.4 Republic of Honduras However, between 19 September and 10 Head of state and government: Juan Orlando November alone the US government sent Hernández nearly 9,000 Haitian migrants and asylum seekers to Haiti, largely without providing Human rights defenders continued to face access to the US asylum system or protection attacks and unfounded criminal 5 screenings, exacerbating the crisis. proceedings. Authorities blocked access to In September, UN agencies also jointly safe abortions and same-sex marriage. called on states across the Americas to adopt Impunity for excessive use of force by law a comprehensive regional approach for enforcement persisted. Haitians on the move and to provide them BACKGROUND with protection measures including asylum “or other legal stay arrangements for more General elections were held on 28 November effective access to regular migration and the newly elected president Xiomara pathways”. Castro was due to take office in January In October, a resolution adopted by the 2022. The creation of Employment and Inter-American Commission on Human Economic Development Zones, which Rights addressed the regional need to benefited from tax exemptions and special increase the protection of Haitans on the security arrangements, sparked protests over move. Despite this, during the year, states the lack of free, prior and informed consent across the region largely failed to shield of Indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant Haitians from a range of human rights communities. Thousands of Hondurans violations in host countries, including affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota, violence detention and unlawful pushbacks, extortion, and poverty were forced to leave the country anti-Black racism, gender-based violence by and headed north. armed groups, and destitution, leaving many IMPUNITY AND EXCESSIVE USE OF Haitians with restricted access to protection 6 FORCE measures including asylum and nowhere safe to go.7 Keyla Martínez died of asphyxia in February in police custody after being arrested for 1. “Haiti: Investigation urged into killing of Haitian president and grave breaking the curfew imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. There were reports of human rights violations under his watch”, 7 July Amnesty International Report 2021/22 186