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In September, the OAS and Honduras signed an agreement to allow an OAS electoral observation mission to the November elections to elect president, legislators, and local authorities. Coca Growing, Cocaine Production Reach New Heights in Honduras There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Efforts to reform public security institutions have stalled. ; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. More than half of the men and two-thirds of the women were in pretrial detention, according to official statistics. OSAC encourages travelers to, to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly funded and staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. Established in 2016 by the government and the OAS, MACCIH contributed to the prosecution of 133 people, including congresspeople and senior officials, 14 of whom stood trial. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. -threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally asBarrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Bogran was arrested in October 2020 on two corruption charges for embezzling an estimated 1.14 billion lempiras ($47 million) in public funds and funneling a contract for mobile hospitals to his uncle, Napoleon Corrales. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or organized criminal groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition. The law entered into force on November 1. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors younger than 18, but the STSS may grant special permission for minors between the ages of 16 to 18 to work in the evening if such employment does not adversely affect their education. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. BTI 2022 Honduras Country Report 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. NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination and promote equal access to government services or employment opportunities. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. Cruise ship industry contacts report that approximately one million U.S. citizens enter the country by ship every year, primarily in Roatn, but also in La Ceiba on the northern coast. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Medical care is limited. On March 3, unknown assailants killed Martin Pandy, president of the Garifuna community of Corozal, and another community member. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Thirty-four percent of women ages 20 to 24 had married when they were 15 to 19, a UN Population Fund study conducted from 2005 to 2019 found. Spurred by anger with the government over accusations of public corruption, allegations of involvement in narcotics trafficking, and efforts to pass controversial education reform, protests and demonstrations were near-daily occurrences at times during 2019. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Penalties for facilitating child sex trafficking are six to 12 years in prison and monetary fines. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The safety situation in Honduras has been deteriorating in recent years due to gang violence and organized crime. Violence was often rooted in a broader context of conflict over land and natural resources, extensive corruption, lack of transparency and community consultation, other criminal activity, and limited state ability to protect the rights of vulnerable communities. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. On July 6, unknown assailants shot and killed land rights defender Juan Manuel Moncada in Tocoa, Colon Department. While the risk from crime in Honduras remains a concern, most U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Honduras are unaffected by violence and visit for tourism or humanitarian aid work without incident. The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. Credible allegations of corruption in the STSS continued. 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. The government closed two pretrial detention centers in April due to low numbers of these types of pretrial detainees. The law prohibits workers from legally striking until after they have attempted and failed to come to agreement with their employer, and it requires workers and employers to participate in a mediation and conciliation process. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. However, in June and October 2021 it abstained from OAS resolutions condemning arrests of Nicaraguan presidential opposition candidates and critics and demanding their release. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. The prosecution may request an additional six-month extension, but many detainees remained in pretrial detention much longer, including for more time than the maximum period of incarceration for their alleged crime. 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. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. International observers acknowledged some of these irregularities but reported they were not systematic and not widespread enough to affect the outcome of the presidential election. In addition the center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by natural disasters during 2020. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and monetary fines. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. Watchlist 2022 Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated and arrested members of the military accused of human rights abuses. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. As of August 5, 174 femicides have been committed in Honduras in 2021 according to the Women's Rights Center, a Honduran nongovernmental organization. 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. Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth in the country, from the citizenship of their parents, or by naturalization. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Employers frequently penalized agricultural workers for taking legally authorized days off. 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. Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Deputies arrested James Weatherly, 63, after serving a search warrant on a property in the 1300 block of West First Street in Halsey, an agency news release said. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 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. Honduras Profile - InSight Crime Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Advanced Training. The law requires police to inform persons of the grounds for their arrest and bring detainees before a competent judicial authority within 24 hours. Abuse of Migrants and Refugees: Transiting migrants and asylum seekers with pending cases were vulnerable to abuse and sexual exploitation by criminal organizations. honduras crime and safety report 2021 Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. 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 The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. Review the State Departments webpage on security for, Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. Authorities generally respected these rights. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. Civil society groups reported that women often did not report domestic violence or withdrew charges because they feared, or were economically dependent on, the aggressor. Official data on forced internal displacement, especially displacement due to violence, was limited in part because gangs controlled many of the neighborhoods that were sources of internal displacement (see section 6, Displaced Children). Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. Under the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, with significant support from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the government continued to build capacity to provide services to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, those at risk of forced displacement, refugees, and returned migrants. Bureau of Diplomatic Security The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Corruption: The new trial of former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo on charges of fraud and misappropriation of public funds, originally set to commence in March, was twice delayed for medical reasons. Police report for March 1, 2023 | Crime | themercury.com Many inspectors asked workers to provide them with transportation so that they could conduct inspections, since the STSS could not pay for travel to worksites. CONAPREV conducted 138 visits to prisons as of September. Her retrial was scheduled for February 2022. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government, Section 5. 19 ianuarie 2023 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. Linn County deputies seize more than 500 marijuana plants from Halsey There are claims of widespread corruption in land sales, deed filing, and dispute resolution, including claims against attorneys, real estate companies, judges, and local officials. According to UNICEF, 34 percent of women and 12 percent of men ages 20 to 24 married before age 18. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. honduras crime and safety report 2021 honduras crime and safety report 2021. google mountain view charge cash app; wect news bladen county; honduras crime and safety report 2021; honduras crime and safety report 2021. danville jail mugshots; marlin 1898 stock; 39 miles hunan impression . Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Discrimination is also common in schools, the workplace, and in the home. U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State On October 7, the National Congress increased penalties for forced labor under the trafficking-in-persons article of the penal code from five to eight years imprisonment to 10 to 15 years, bringing the penalties in line with the penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Review OSACs reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Departments webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. Civil society continued to criticize the law for classification of documents related to security and national defense, saying it limited transparency and allowed officials to use the classification of documents to obscure wrongdoing. honduras crime and safety report 2021 - honolulu-supplies.com There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common and problematic, with many other pretrial detainees held in the general population with convicted prisoners. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Children often worked on melon, coffee, okra, and sugarcane plantations as well as in other agricultural production; scavenged at garbage dumps; worked in the forestry and fishing sectors; worked as domestic servants; peddled goods such as fruit; begged; washed cars; hauled goods; and labored in limestone quarrying and lime production. 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. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. In addition women experienced delays in accessing justice due to police who failed to process complaints in a timely manner or judicial system officials who deferred scheduling hearings. 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. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or opposition party policies. 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. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. The legal age of consent is 18. In June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held that Honduras violated the rights to life and personal integrity of Vicky Hernndez, a transgender woman killed during the 2009 coup. The 18th Street and MS-13 (. ) Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. If a victims physical injuries do not reach the severity required to categorize the violence as a criminal act, the legal penalty for a first offense is a sentence of one to three months of community service. Your session will expire soon and log you out. From January to June, the OV-UNAH documented eight violent deaths in prisons. The law prohibits illicit association, defined as gatherings by persons bearing arms, explosive devices, or dangerous objects with the purpose of committing a crime, and prescribes prison terms of two to four years and a moderate fine for anyone who convokes or directs an illicit meeting or demonstration. This definition included workers who did not contribute to any form of social security protection, and thus it may have undercounted underemployed workers who rely on jobs in both the formal and informal sectors. The governments National Policy to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination seeks to promote equality and combat discrimination related to the countrys seven indigenous and two Afro-descendent groups, with a focus on social and political participation; access to education, health care, justice, and employment opportunities; and rights to ancestral lands and natural resources. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services to women, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media, b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association, d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country, e. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. Natural Disasters Risk: Medium. While all formal workers are entitled to social security, there were reports that both public- and private-sector employers failed to pay into the social security system. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Cruise ship industry contacts report that approximately one million U.S. citizens enter the country by ship every year, primarily in Roatn, but also in La Ceiba on the northern coast. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. There have been multiple incidents of gang members destroying city buses and taxis, and reports that gang members rob, assault, rape, kidnap, or murder passengers. Officers filed a report for theft and criminal damage to property at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Denison Avenue in Manhattan. Persons with disabilities, indigenous and Afro-descendant persons, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with HIV or AIDS also faced discrimination in employment and occupation (see section 6). Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. There have been repeated allegations of collusion between security forces and criminal organizations. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. As of October 17, 42,357 Hondurans were deported in 2021 to Hondurasmore than the total throughout 2020the government reported. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. honduras crime and safety report 2022. Crime in Honduras - DocsLib Between January and March this year, authorities have destroyed . Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. As of September the Public Ministry had received nine reports of racial or ethnic discrimination. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Most children who worked did so without STSS permits. The law permits workers in public health care, social security, staple food production, and public utilities (municipal sanitation, water, electricity, and telecommunications) to strike if they continue to provide basic services. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. 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. Honduras - United States Department of State 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, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. 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. A federal grand jury on Friday indicted the man accused of shooting two Jewish men in February with hate crime and firearm offenses, the US Attorney's Office for the Central Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. The Secretariat of Human Rights provided training to security forces to reinforce respect for human rights. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. Share this via LinkedIn Unions also raised concerns regarding the use of temporary contracts and part-time employment, suggesting that employers used these mechanisms to prevent unionization and avoid providing full benefits. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 2019. The law requires prisoners to work at least five hours a day, six days a week. 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. These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. However, many petitions for pandemic release have been rejected. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups.