Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. In a 2020 survey by UNHCR and UNICEF, half of Hondurans interviewed in Mexico named violence as the main reason for their leaving. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape of women or men, including spousal rape. 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). For more in-depth information, review OSACs. The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination and promote equal access to government services or employment opportunities. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. There were allegations that companies used collective pacts, which are collective contracts with nonunionized workers, to prevent unionization and collective bargaining because only one collective contract may exist in each workplace. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. 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. On April 27, the Public Ministry filed an indictment against police officer Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento for the February 6 murder of Keyla Martinez in La Esperanza, Intibuca Department. Gangs control some of the taxi services. 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. ; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. Review the State Departments webpage on. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. As of August 5, 174 femicides have been committed in Honduras in 2021 according to the Women's Rights Center, a Honduran nongovernmental organization. From January to June, the OV-UNAH documented eight violent deaths in prisons. Rural communities subject to increased food insecurity due to prolonged drought and extreme weather events are also vulnerable to displacement. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. Posted at 09:48h in michael deluise matt leblanc by Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. The accused were in pretrial detention awaiting the next phase of the judicial process. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. honduras crime and safety report 2021. roche graduate . 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. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. The number of inspections increased significantly as the STSS resumed normal inspections, suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. honduras crime and safety report 2022. how to wear a sheath dress to a wedding; apple music not working on android; honduras crime and safety report 2022. figure 8 racing near me 2022; what does the god particle look like; Despite significant international and local public pressure, MACCIHs mandate ended in January 2020 without agreement for its extension between the OAS and the Honduran government. The groups most likely to be internally displaced are children subjected to forced gang recruitment, professionals and business owners who face extortion, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT people and members of ethnic minorities who face violence and discrimination, the IACHR has reported. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. The Secretariat of Human Rights stated it was taking every precaution to protect prisoners rights and assure that the work provided opportunities for prisoners to develop skills they could use in legal economic activities after their release. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. In January the government funded the opening of a UN Office of Drugs and Crime office to begin a government transparency project and support the drafting of the countrys first national anticorruption strategy. Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. Overseas Security Advisory Council Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. Nevertheless, Honduras had yet to sign the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escaz . 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. Despite incremental progress, government capacities remained relatively nascent and limited. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. The U.S. Embassy has restricted U.S. government personnel travel to the Gracias a Dios Department in eastern Honduras because of credible threat information against U.S citizens. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. 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. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. The Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated abuses by police forces. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. 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. Credible allegations of corruption in the STSS continued. 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. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Advanced Training. Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce this right. Lanza said that 50 drivers have been killed so far in 2022, and a total of 2,500 have been killed over the last 15 years. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. Civil society continued to raise problems with minimum wage violations, highlighting agricultural companies in the south as frequent violators. The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and indigenous activist Berta Caceres. Download Historical Data There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. The average age of first contact with gangs is 13 years old, a 2020 UN Development Programme report found. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. It stipulates that a prosecutor has 24 additional hours to decide if there is probable cause for indictment, whereupon a judge has 24 more hours to decide whether to issue a temporary detention order. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. Recent Elections: In November Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party won a four-year presidential term in elections that were generally considered free, fair, and transparent. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is sufficient to deter violations and commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor code violations. As of September, more than 20,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for under 11,000. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. 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. Ethnic minority rights leaders, international NGOs, and farmworker organizations claimed the government failed to redress actions taken by security forces, government agencies, private individuals, and businesses to dislodge farmers and indigenous persons from lands over which they claimed ownership based on land reform law or ancestral land titles. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups, which was also often the cause of displacement. Advanced Scuba Diver; Ultimate Rescue Diver; Specialties. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common and problematic, with many other pretrial detainees held in the general population with convicted prisoners. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. Medical care is limited. 2022 Investment Climate Statements: Honduras In this section / Executive Summary Executive Summary 1. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Share this via Reddit Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. Avoid using. Review OSACs reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, Im Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The Donts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. The law permits strikes by workers in export-processing zones and free zones for companies that provide services to industrial parks, but it requires that strikes not impede the operations of other factories in such parks. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but impunity was widespread. The law also requires that public-sector workers involved in the refining, transportation, and distribution of petroleum products submit their grievances to the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) before striking. In addition the center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by natural disasters during 2020. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. If the STSS grants permission, children between 14 and 16 may work a maximum of four hours a day, and those between 16 and 18 may work up to six hours a day. 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. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation like U.S. States), includingAtlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, andYoro. 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. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product Import and Export (APIE) 4700 River Road, Unit 40. The legal age of consent is 18. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500, Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula, Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600, Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. Survivors of domestic violence are entitled to certain protective measures, such as removing the abuser from the home and prohibiting the abuser from visiting the victims work or other frequently visited places. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. In June 2020, Congress passed a new penal code that introduced the crime of internal displacement, punishing, with prison sentences of six to nine years, those who, through violence or intimidation, force someone to abandon or change their place of living. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported 15 arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. Both the STSS and the courts may order a company to reinstate workers, but the STSS lacked the personnel and transportation resources to verify compliance. With Autocrats on the Defensive, Can Democrats Rise to the Occasion. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Riverdale, MD 20737. Natural Disasters Risk: Medium. Media reported prison riots, violent confrontations, and killings between gang members in prisons throughout the year. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. 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. 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. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. Judges face interferenceincluding political pressure, threats, and harassmentfrom the executive branch, private actors with connections to government, and gangs. Women with disabilities are not included in general policies to prevent violence against women. 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 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. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. The Human Rights Secretariat (SEDH) informed that 314 women were murdered in Honduras in 2021. 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. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. In February, journalist Henry Fiallos and his family received anonymous death threats after he covered a femicide in which police officers were implicated. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . Vasquez was the leader of the Union of Field Workers, a member of the Lenca community, an environmental activist, and a LIBRE Party candidate for Congress. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. In July, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) and the IACHR urged the government to refrain from charging Garifuna women with damage, threats, theft, and usurpation of lands. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. The trial began five years after the prize-winning activist's murder. The STSS did not approve any authorizations through September. From January to September 2021, 31,894 Hondurans requested asylum in Mexico, the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (COMAR) reportedfiling more than 35 percent of Mexicos total asylum petitions. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Although its specialists occasionally cannot provide the U.S. standard of care, the hospital and diagnostic departments do have the capability to provide most medical procedures. The law provides a maximum sentence of three years in prison for disobeying a restraining order connected with the crime of violence against a woman. The law presumes an accused person is innocent. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. In January, legislators increased the majority needed to amend the provision banning abortion from two-thirds to three-quarters. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. 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. In 2019, more than 360,000 children between 5 and 17 years old worked, and only half of children under 18 years old attended school, according to the National Statistics Unit. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Voters elected Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party as president for a four-year term scheduled to begin in January 2022. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 7, the total prison population was 20,768 in 25 prisons and one detention center. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Organized criminal groups, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes and committed acts of homicide, torture, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, intimidation, and other threats and violence directed against human rights defenders, judicial authorities, lawyers, business community members, journalists, bloggers, women, and other vulnerable populations. 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. gangs are the most active and powerful. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry and new national identification cards, and new technology that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. In September, President Hernndez accused those who advocate for same-sex marriage of attacking Christian principles and the notion of the family.. The accused has the right to an initial hearing before a judge, to ask for bail, consult with legal counsel in a timely manner, have a lawyer provided by the state if necessary, and request an appeal. As of September the Secretariat of Human Rights reported the countrys pretrial detention center held 33 individuals. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. The law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. In addition, Honduras is situated in an active seismic zone, so tremors are to be expected. Penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and monetary fines. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. 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. Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. . Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. INCIDENTS. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. 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.