9 Undertake all necessary measures to ensure the independence of the judiciary, including by putting an end to any intimidation or unjustified disciplinary procedures against judges perceived 26 as critical of the coup. 33. Finally, in one of its reports on the situation in Honduras, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights commented that: 67. The institutions responsible for protecting human rights and guaranteeing the rule of law failed in many instances to accomplish their mandate, mainly due to a lack of independence. 68. During the period covered by this report, the lack of independence of the judiciary and the unequal and discriminatory application and interpretation of the law have been evident. The Attorney General’s Office, judges and the Supreme Court of Justice have, in general, supported the de facto authorities by defending restrictive measures at the expense of protection of human 27 rights and respect for the rule of law […] . 3. The Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia 34. The Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia (AJD) is a professional association of Honduran judges and magistrates founded in 2006. According to the AJD, its objective is “to defend, promote and strengthen the rule of law, specifically the area of justice, and the independence of and respect for the Honduran judiciary.”28 To be a member of the association, one has to be a judge or magistrate in active service.29 35. The AJD took a position on the events and discounted the hypothesis that what happened was a constitutional transition. It called upon the SCJ “to comply with its duty to guarantee fundamental rights and enforce the restraints on the other branches of government.”30 The AJD publicly 26 General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. Honduras, A/HRC/16/10, January 4, 2011. Recommendation 82.56. Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A-HRC-1610.pdf 27 United Nations. Human Rights Council. A/HRC/13/66. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the violations of human rights in Honduras since the coup d’état on 28 June 2009. March 3, 2010, paragraphs 67 and 68. Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A-HRC-13-66.pdf 28 Statute of the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia (AJD). Resolution 1062-2007 of September 18, 2007, of the General Secretariat of the Secretariat of State in the Offices of Governance and Justice. La Gaceta No. 31.428. October 10, 2007. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/asociaciones/Documents/Estatutos%20Asociación%20de%20Jueces%20por%20la%20Democr acia.pdf 29 Articles 8 and 12 of the Statute of the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia (AJD). Resolution 1062-2007 of September 18, 2007, of the General Secretariat of the Secretariat of State in the Offices of Governance and Justice. La Gaceta No. 31.428. October 10, 2007. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/asociaciones/Documents/Estatutos%20Asociación%20de%20Jueces%20por%20la%20Democr acia.pdf 30 Annex 7. Communiqué from the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia. July 28, 2009. Attachment to the petitioners’ communication of January 20, 2011.