Honduras finally frees emergency contraception pills
March 2023. Honduras’ President Xiomara Castro announced on March 8 that emergency contraception pills will be allowed to be marketed and used in the country. According to Reuters, the President “signed an executive order ending a ban of more than 10 years on the use and sale of the “morning after pill,” fulfilling a campaign promise long-awaited by feminist groups.” The new policy (Acuerdo Ejecutivo 75-2023) has already been published on the Gaceta (Hondura’s official journal) Num. 36.174, which can be downloaded here.
Since the Executive Agreement 36-2009 (June 29) was enacted, the sale, purchase, use, as well as paid or free distribution and marketing of emergency contraceptive drugs in pharmacies, drugstores or any other means of acquisition, was banned. This prohibition was based on the assumption that ECPs could interfer with implantation or cause and abortion.
Since Costa Rica allowed the registration of LNG emergency contraception pills in 2019, Honduras was the only country in Latin America and the Caribbean that still banned EC. Putting an end to the 2009 Executive Agree was a necessary step to implement the December 2022 protocol of comprehensive care to survivors of sexual violence (Protocolo de Atención Integral a Víctimas / Sobrevivientes de Violencia Sexual), in which EC is part of the first line treatment for survivors.
