Honduras Swears in Its First Female President in History

January 28, 2022

"The economic catastrophe that I'm inheriting is unparalleled in the history of our country," Castro said in her inauguration speech. "My government will not continue the maelstrom of looting that has condemned generations of young people to pay the debt they incurred behind their back."

—President Xiomara Castro

The gist:

After a 12-year reign of the National Party in Honduras, Freedom and Refoundation Party (Libre) member Xiomara Castro was sworn in as the country’s first female president, on January 27, 2022. Activists are hopeful “that Castro’s nomination will open up doors for other women in government and that she will advance women’s rights in the country.”

The Stats:

• One of Castro’s first orders of action is to provide free electricity to 1 million Hondurans living in poverty. Nearly 50% of the population remains below the national poverty line

• The president is expected to undo restrictions on emergency contraceptives soon and work to eventually legalize abortion

• Castro’s transition team has also already started working with women’s rights groups to draft violence against women legislation, and she has said she wants to open more domestic violence shelters, promote women’s economic development, and introduce comprehensive sexual education in schools.

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