82 FR 57812 - Certification Pursuant to Section 7045(a)(4)(B) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (DIV. J, Pub. L. 115-31)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 234 (December 7, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57812-57813]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26427]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10221]


Certification Pursuant to Section 7045(a)(4)(B) of the Department 
of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
2017 (DIV. J, Pub. L. 115-31)

    By virtue of the authority vested in me as the Secretary of State, 
including pursuant to section 7045(a)(4)(B) of the Department of State, 
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (Div. 
J, Pub. L. 115-31), I hereby certify that the central government of 
Honduras is taking effective steps, which are in addition to those 
steps taken since the certification and report submitted during the 
prior year, to:
     Work cooperatively with an autonomous, publicly 
accountable entity to provide oversight of the Plan;
     combat corruption, including investigating and prosecuting 
current and former government officials credibly alleged to be corrupt;
     implement reforms, policies, and programs to improve 
transparency and strengthen public institutions, including increasing 
the capacity and independence of the judiciary and the Office of the 
Attorney General;
     implement a policy to ensure that local communities, civil 
society organizations (including indigenous and

[[Page 57813]]

other marginalized groups), and local governments are consulted in the 
design, and participate in the implementation and evaluation of, 
activities of the plan that affect such communities, organizations, and 
governments;
     counter the activities of criminal gangs, drug 
traffickers, and organized crime;
     investigate and prosecute in the civilian justice system 
government personnel, including military and police personnel, who are 
credibly alleged to have violated human rights, and ensure that such 
personnel are cooperating in such cases;
     cooperate with commissions against corruption and impunity 
and with regional human rights entities;
     support programs to reduce poverty, expand education and 
vocational training for at-risk youth, create jobs, and promote 
equitable economic growth particularly in areas contributing to large 
numbers of migrants;
     implement a plan that includes goals, benchmarks and 
timelines to create a professional, accountable civilian police force 
and end the role of the military in internal policing, and make such 
plan available to the Department of State;
     protect the right of political opposition parties, 
journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, and other civil 
society activists to operate without interference;
     increase government revenues, including by implementing 
tax reforms and strengthening customs agencies; and
     resolve commercial disputes, including the confiscation of 
real property, between United States entities and such government.
    This certification shall be published in the Federal Register and, 
along with the accompanying Memorandum of Justification, shall be 
reported to Congress.

    Dated: November 29, 2017.
Rex W. Tillerson,
Secretary of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-26427 Filed 12-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-29-P