Tegucigalpa, Honduras - The Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman participated today in an open meeting entitled "Women's Rights in Honduras", organized by the Commission for Gender Equality Committee of the National Democratic Institute. 

The open meeting was held in the presence of three Nobel Peace Prize laureates who arrived in Honduras in a tour organized by JASS (Just Associates) and the Nobel Women's Initiative.

The Nobel laureate, Tawakkol Karman, pointed out that this meeting is an opportunity to hold debate and and launch initiatives regarding human rights and women, and to discuss what politicians should do within government institutions to make progress in favor of women's rights.

Mrs. Karman is expected to meet with the President of Honduras, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Human Rights and officials of General Secretariat for Security and Human Rights.

The presence of "Nobel Women" is as part of a continuing fact-finding mission on human rights in Honduras, that had begun in 2012, and it is scheduled to hold a press conference with Tawakkol Karman on Tuesday, October 24, on her impressions during the visit to Honduras.

The two Nobel peace laureates, Karman and Ebadi, along with a number of experts and activists, visited the Rio Blanco region to the west of Honduras, meeting indigenous people who are struggling not to build the Agua Zarca hydro-electric dam, which is largely financed by foreign investors and threatens the cultural heritage and livelihood of the community.

Karman and Ebadi noted that their visit to the region has come as a step to support the struggle of those defending their natural lands.

"We are with those struggling to live in peace, harmony and happiness that deserve it, and for societies free of threats and death projects," Karman and Ebadi added.

Karman and Ebadi gathered together with the daughter of the environmentalist Berta Caceres, who was gunned down last year, and a number of environmentalists and human rights activists in the region of the Gualcarque River. 

"We came to Honduras to support anyone who tries to defend human rights and the right of people to a life that guarantees justice and various rights, such as freedom of opinion and justice and the right to live in a clean environment," said Mrs. Karman.

Karman called on the Honduran authorities to bring justice to the case of activist Berta Caceres, stressing that the perpetrators should not escape punishment.