Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. 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. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. For more in-depth information, review OSACs. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. This figure is projected to rise by 0.5 million by June 2023. 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 insurance overseas. In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. Nevertheless, social discrimination against racial and ethnic groups persisted, as did physical violence. 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. 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. -threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. 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. These workers are not covered by the contributory social security system and are not protected by the labor code. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. 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. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. 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. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. The government launched a new Ministry of Transparency in November 2020 to address some of these concerns. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. 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. The law regulates child labor, sets the minimum age for employment at age 14, and regulates the hours and types of work that minors younger than 18 may perform. As of August it continued to provide protection to 12 journalists, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. 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. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining, and the government failed to enforce applicable laws effectively. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from organized criminal groups or corrupt government officials. The law allows the release of other suspects pending formal charges, on the condition that they periodically report to authorities, although management of this reporting mechanism was often weak. Credit card skimming is common. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. 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. The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. 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. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. According to Human Rights Watch, Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of these groups. 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. 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 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. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. From 2015 through 2019, authorities arrested 4,196 gang members, the National Police reported. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. 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. The government took some steps to address corruption at high levels in government agencies, including arresting and charging senior officials on COVID-related procurement corruption. This resulted in multiple protests by environmentalist groups claiming the project is illegal due to the damage to the bioreserve and exacerbating the citys already dire water shortage. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. On June 17, a riot between alleged members of the 18th Street and MS-13 gangs in the maximum-security prison La Tolva in Moroceli, El Paraiso Department, resulted in five dead and 39 injured. In February, the US announced suspension and planned termination of the asylum cooperative agreement signed with Honduras in 2019, whereby Honduras had agreed to receive non-Honduran asylum-seekers transferred from the US. Child recruitment by gangs has caused many children to flee and abandon school. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence, a. On July 25, media reported individuals shot and killed Liberal Party congressional candidate and former congresswoman Carolina Echeverria Haylock in Tegucigalpa. 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. 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. honduras crime and safety report 2021. 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. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. The document was compiled from various Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. 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. 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. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). In addition the center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by natural disasters during 2020. In-country Movement: There were areas where authorities could not assure freedom of movement because of criminal activity and a lack of significant government presence. Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. These efforts were insufficient due to limited political will, inadequate staffing, limited or no services in rural areas, absence of or inadequate training and awareness of domestic violence among police and other authorities, and a pattern of male-dominant culture and norms. More than half of the men and two-thirds of the women were in pretrial detention, according to official statistics. 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. 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. osac crime and safety report honduras Posted on July 8, 2021by Published by at June 7, 2022. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. 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. On March 28, transgender activist Vanessa Zuniga was killed in Tela, Atlantida Department. Since its inception in 2016, MACCIH has worked with the Public Ministry to achieve success on several significant cases, including against current and former public officials. There have been repeated allegations of collusion between security forces and criminal organizations. Anti-corruption prosecutors have been left defenseless. The trial began five years after the prize-winning activist's murder. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. 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. Honduras has the highest rate of femicidedefined as the killing of a woman by a man because of her genderin Latin America, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reports. Several UN special rapporteurs and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances warned, in April, of growing numbers of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have disappeared in Mexico, including 741 Hondurans from March through August 2019. Of those, 37,114 were deported from Mexico and 4,689 from the US. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. There are no legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities brought before the Honduran judicial system, and no reports of judicial developments that would have a negative impact on U.S. counterterrorism efforts. In January, Congress voted to increase the majority needed to amend Hondurass constitutional ban on same sex marriage from two-thirds to three-quarters, thereby further entrenching the prohibition. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. 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. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. Honduras' national police force is overseen by the Secretary of Security, which had 18,770 agents in 2020 and ambitious plans to reach 26000 by 2022. Perdomo allegedly killed Keyla Martinez after she was detained for violating the countrys COVID-19 curfew. The STSS is responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational health and safety law, but it did so inconsistently and ineffectively. Although the law prohibits such practices, government officials received complaints and investigated alleged abuses by members of the security forces on the streets and in detention centers. honduras crime and safety report 2021. roche graduate . CONAPREV conducted 138 visits to prisons as of September. The government maintained the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of Persons Displaced by Violence and created the Directorate for the Protection of Persons Internally Displaced by Violence within the Secretariat of Human Rights. The safety situation in Honduras has been deteriorating in recent years due to gang violence and organized crime. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. The change increases the penalty from two to four years to four to six years. Its operations to receive and process cases were reliant on substantial support from UNHCR. 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. Other ways to share U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. As of October 17, 42,357 Hondurans were deported in 2021 to Hondurasmore than the total throughout 2020the government reported. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Transgender persons are prohibited from changing their legal gender status. An independent press and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media. CONAPREV reported every prison had a functioning health clinic with at least one medical professional, but basic medical supplies and medicines were in short supply throughout the prison system. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Medical care is limited. According to the Inter-American Press Association, 29 journalists were beneficiaries of official protective measures. 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. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 2019. Riverdale, MD 20737. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. In some industries, including agriculture, domestic service, and security, employers did not respect maternity rights or pay minimum wage, overtime, or vacation.