The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. Hondurans continue to be affected by MS-13 and Calle 18 gang activity in cities such as Tegucigalpa, Choloma, La Ceiba, Tela, and San Pedro Sula. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. The municipalities in which kidnappings were reported include: Districto Central (4), Jacaleapa (1), Trojes (1), Siguatepeque (1), Puerto Cortes (1), Lejamani (1), Tocoa (1), Tela (1), and Comayagua (1). Girls and adolescents younger than 19 carry 15 percent of all pregnancies, the Monitoring Mechanism of the Belm do Par Convention reported in 2016. According to UNDP data, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. Her retrial was scheduled for February 2022. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. The law also imposes prison sentences of up to two years, eight months for child labor violations that endanger the life or morality of a child age 16 or 17 and up to three years, four months for children younger than 16. There is also a Human Rights Committee in the National Congress. Nicaragua used to be part of the CA-4 agreement, but in late 2017 began requiring travelers to register their travel purpose and destination online seven days in advance. Review OSACs reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but authorities did not implement the law effectively, and officials continued to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. There is no statutory rape law, but the penalty for rape of a minor younger than 14 is 12 to 17 years in prison, or nine to 13 years in prison if the victim is 14 or older. Persons from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continued to experience discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services. The Honduran government is modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, which can lead to increased travel times because of ongoing construction. Powerful special interests, including organized criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). As of September the Secretariat of Human Rights reported the countrys pretrial detention center held 33 individuals. Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. -threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. Although the law generally prohibits such actions, a legal exception allows government authorities to enter a private residence to prevent a crime or in case of another emergency. The Public Ministry received one report of discrimination based on an individuals disability as of September. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Coca Growing, Cocaine Production Reach New Heights in Honduras. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. Through August CONADEH received six reports of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Through September the secretariat trained 2,626 law enforcement officials in human rights and international humanitarian law. The law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, with some restrictions, and the government generally respected this right. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations 169 Convention, which requires free prior notice and informed consent from indigenous communities before any development projects can begin; the congress has not approved a law regulating this process. Major cities (e.g. During 2019, multiple vehicles belonging to U.S. and Honduran employees of the U.S. Embassy were burglarized and/or vandalized on side streets around the Embassy compound. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported 15 arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported that authorities at times failed to enforce these requirements effectively. The municipalities in which kidnappings were reported include: Districto Central (4), Jacaleapa (1), Trojes (1), Siguatepeque (1), Puerto Cortes (1), Lejamani (1), Tocoa (1), Tela (1), and Comayagua (1). After 37 detainees were killed in a 2019 wave of gang violence, President Juan Orlando Hernndez declared a state of emergencyextended to December 2021and put prisons under military control. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. The armed forces, which report to the Secretariat of Defense, are responsible for external security but also exercise some domestic security responsibilities in support of the national police and other civilian authorities. The government has a police investigative unit dedicated to investigating violent crimes against the LGBTI+ and other vulnerable communities, composed of Public Ministry prosecutors, members of ATIC (prosecutors investigative agency), and the Honduran National Police; however, it has limited resources and functions primarily in the major urban areas. The national curfew instituted in response to COVID-19, however, limited the freedom of internal movement and affected the freedom to leave the country, including for individuals at risk of or subject to persecution or torture. In January, legislators increased the majority needed to amend the provision banning abortion from two-thirds to three-quarters. Activists say the governments Mechanism for the Protection of Journalists, Human Rights Defenders, and Justice Activists, created in 2015, is ineffective. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. With Autocrats on the Defensive, Can Democrats Rise to the Occasion. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. The directorate issued 1,379 recommendations to the Ministry of Security for disciplinary actions as of September following internal investigations of national police members. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. Women, children, and LGBTQI+ migrants and asylum seekers with pending cases were especially vulnerable to abuse. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. However, kidnapping figures are likely lower than reality, as families of kidnapping victims often pay ransoms without reporting these crimes to police out of fear of retribution. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. Penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and monetary fines. Prisoners suffered from overcrowding, insufficient access to food and water, violence, and alleged abuse by prison officials. Honduras fragile institutions fail to protect the rights of children, including adolescents, and ensure that they have access to basic services such as education and healthcare, the IACHR reported in 2019. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. The most recent national and local elections were held in November. The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but impunity was widespread. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Some would-be muggers and gang members keep to a daily schedule, riding city buses from one stop to the next, committing criminal acts with impunity along the way. ELITES AND CRIME / 1 NOV 2022 Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. To reduce overcrowding in response to the pandemic, the legislature approved alternatives to pretrial detention and judges have released more than 1,600 people. Avoid traveling at night and always drive with doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Internal Displacement, Migration, and Asylum. The quasi-governmental National Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment (CONAPREV) received 18 complaints of the use of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment through August. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. 19 ianuarie 2023 Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. nonpublic school not seeking state approval louisiana. Defendants may receive free assistance from an interpreter. Since MACCIH left, the Attorney Generals Office has harassed and intimidated the head of its own anti-corruption criminal enterprise office, Prosecutor Luis Javier Santos, and members of his team. The government failed to control pervasive gang-related violence and criminal activity within the prisons. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. Overseas Security Advisory Council The Secretariat of Human Rights served as an effective advocate for human rights within the government. However, in June and October 2021 it abstained from OAS resolutions condemning arrests of Nicaraguan presidential opposition candidates and critics and demanding their release. On April 23, the Public Ministry arrested and charged Josue Exequiel Martinez Martinez, Siriaco Mejia Santos, Francisco Lopez Lazo, and Mario Anibal Lopez Velasquez for the December 2020 murder of Felix Vasquez. Backsliding occurred in cases brought during the four-year mandate of the OAS Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras; several of its cases were dismissed or postponed as courts heard appeals based on the new code. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Advanced Training. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. Contact OSACsLatin Americateam with any questions or to join. Review OSACs reports, The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for, The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. The Human Rights Secretariat (SEDH) informed that 314 women were murdered in Honduras in 2021. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Total "Part 1" crimes violent crimes of homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; and property crimes of burglary, theft and . Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population; as of September the National Prison Institute reported 106 prisoners had been treated for tuberculosis. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents ; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including threats to media members by criminal elements and the existence of criminal libel laws; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence against indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, and against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. See the Department of States Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html. On July 5, the National Tribunal Court found Roberto David Castillo Mejia guilty for his role as one of the alleged intellectual authors of her murder. Media noted that family members often faced long delays or were unable to visit detainees. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. From January to July, 7,007 accompanied and 676 unaccompanied Honduran children requested asylum. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. The criminal justice system regularly fails to hold accountable those responsible for crimes and abuses. In October 2019, a thief stole the side view mirrors from a U.S. employees personally owned vehicle while it was parked on a side street near the Embassy. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. The law prohibits police from unionizing (see section 7.a.). There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Share this via WhatsApp Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Because labor inspectors continued to be concentrated in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, full labor inspections and follow-up visits to confirm compliance were far less frequent in other parts of the country. Support and resources from a four-year Organization of American States (OAS) mission to strengthen the fight against corruption and impunity, concluded in January 2020, have not produced lasting reforms. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. Sample Page; ; While there are no areas in major urban cities free of violent crime, notably dangerous locations in Tegucigalpa include the areas surrounding Suyapa Cathedral, downtown Comayagela, downtown Tegucigalpa, and neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city that are generally controlled by gangs. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. In February, journalist Henry Fiallos and his family received anonymous death threats after he covered a femicide in which police officers were implicated. They called for implementation of protective measures. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. honduras crime and safety report 2021. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. According to a November 2019 study entitled Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the Central District and Comayaguela, 48% of passengers reported having been assaulted one time in the past 12 months while traveling on a Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. According to the Honduran Commission for Human Rights (Conadeh), 75 people died in attacks against the public transport service in Honduras between January and July 2019. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. In 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota forced more than 55,000 to move into temporary shelters, according to the Red Cross. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Review OSACs report, The limited capacity of the government to enforce international standards related to natural resource exploitation has resulted in higher levels of conflict in the extractive and electrical generation industries. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Abortion is illegal in Honduras under all circumstances, with prison sentences of up to six years. Of November 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 crimes are carried out by acting., 2022, in Uvalde, Texas in Action - Honduras /a > Qatar iverson house gladwyne tesla! Contact OSACs, https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Travel Advisory: Honduras - Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), Central America Natural Disaster Emergency Planning: OSAC Guidance and Resources. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required STSS-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. Many prisoners had access to weapons and other contraband, inmates attacked other inmates with impunity, and inmates and their associates outside prison threatened prison officials and their families. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S.
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