concern regarding the “violations of the right to life, security and to the physical and psychological integrity of human rights advocates in Honduras, particularly environmental activists and indigenous leaders defending rights in their communities.”31 Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on the status of human rights advocates, spoke out in this same spirit in her December 13, 2012, report on the mission to Honduras.32 23. In 2007, in turn, the State created the “Group for the Investigation of Environmentalists’ Deaths,” attached to the Ministry of Security, which had exclusive responsibility for investigating cases related to deaths of the environmentalists.33 The Court has no information regarding the period when this mechanism was operational.34 B. Facts of the Case B. 1. Carlos Luna López’s political actions and his defense of human rights and of the environment 24. Mr. Carlos Luna López was born on June 13, 1955, in city of La Ceiba in the Province of Atlántida, Honduras.35 In 1982, he was an activist in several movements of the Liberal Party, while at the same time supporting local farmers’ groups in their struggle for land. In 1985, he became a congressional candidate for the Province of Olancho. However, at the end of this electoral process Mr. Luna López withdrew from political life until 1997. During this period, Mr. Luna López continued to support the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras and the Visitación Padilla Women’s Peace Movement.36 25. In 1997 Mr. Carlos Luna López took part in the general election as mayoral candidate of the Democratic Unification Party of the Municipality of Catacamas, in Olancho Province. As a result, he was elected to the post of Eighth Member of the City Council of Catacamas for the 1998-2002 period.37 31 UN, Economic and Social Council. Report submitted by Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Human Rights Defenders. Addendum. Compilation of advances in the area of human rights defenders, E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.5, March 6, 2006, para. 724 (File of attachments to Merits Report, page 149). 32 UN, Human Rights Council. Report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya. Mission to Honduras, A/HRC/22/47Add.1, December 13, 2012, paras. 73 and 82, available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/AHRC2247Add.1_Spanish.PDF, in which the Rapporteur: “73. Observ[ed] with concern the level of violence with which they act against those using peaceful means to claim their economic, social and cultural rights, including rights over the land. […] Many of them live in a state of constant fear. In addition, she received information on acts of violence specifically directed at community leaders by police officials and security guards contacted by private companies […] 82. Cases of the defenders of human rights that protect natural resources (forests, lands, and water) have been registered and they have been repeatedly detained, beaten and in some cases killed because of their activities. Others who report environmental problems and inform people on their rights to the land and food have been considered as members of the resistance, guerrillas, terrorists, political opposition or delinquents.” 33 Cf. Case of Kawas Fernández, supra, para. 70. 34 This mechanism was assessed in the Case of Kawas Fernández, supra, para. 70. In this regard, the representatives indicated that it remained operational for a few months only and no longer exists (Merits file, page 206). 35 Cf. Erguidos Como Pinos. Memoria sobre la Construcción de la Conciencia Ambientalista (Report) by the Committee of Families of the Detained-Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH). Honduras, December, 2006 (File of attachments to the Report on Merits, page 326). 36 Cf. Erguidos Como Pinos, supra (File of attachments to the Report on Merits, page 330). 37 Cf. Erguidos Como Pinos, supra (File of attachments to the Report on Merits, page 331), and Credential of Carlos Antonio Luna López issued by the National Electoral Tribunal (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, page 4283). 12