Trials in absentia

Honduras

Honduras - Constitution 1982 (2013) EN

TITLE IV: CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES
CHAPTER I: Habeas Corpus, Habeas Data and Amparo

Article 182
The State recognizes the guarantee of habeas corpus or personal appearance and of
habeas data. Consequently, in habeas corpus or personal appearance, every
aggrieved person, or any other in his behalf, has the right to file the petition; and in
habeas data only may the person whose personal or familiar information are in
archives, public or private registries in the following manner:
1. Habeas Corpus or Personal Appearance
a. When he is illegally imprisoned, detained or restrained in any way in
the enjoyment of his freedom; and
b. When during his lawful imprisonment or detention, the imprisoned or
detained person is subjected to torment, torture, harassment, illegal
demands, or any other coercion or molestation that is unnecessary for
his personal safety or for the order of the prison.
2. Habeas Data
All persons have the right to access information about themselves or their
property that is already contained in databases, public or private registries
in an expedited and non-onerous manner, and in cases where it is necessary
to access, correct, or remove it. This may not affect the privacy of
journalistic information sources.
A writ of habeas corpus or habeas data may be filed without requiring any special
power or any formality, either orally or in writing, using any means of
communication, at any time during working or nonworking days and free of charge.
Only the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice may take
cognizance of the protections of habeas data; it has the unavoidable obligation of
proceeding immediately to stop any violation of the rights of honor, personal or
familiar privacy, a one’s own image.
The authorities of courts may not dismiss a petition for a writ of habeas corpus or
personal appearance and additionally have the inescapable duty of proceeding
immediately to put an end to the violation of one's personal liberty or personal
safety.
In both cases, the authorities of the courts that fail to admit these constitutional
petitions shall incur the corresponding criminal and administrative liability.
Authorities that order and agents who undertake the concealment of the detained
person, or who in any other way violate this guarantee shall be guilty of the offense
of illegal detention.

Rome Statute

Article 63 Trial in the presence of the accused

1. The accused shall be present during the trial.