In 2019, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for them in Latin America. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. 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. The IACHR received information on frequent threats of lawsuits and prosecutions, including for slander and libel, hindering human rights work in Honduras. From 2015 through 2019, authorities arrested 4,196 gang members, the National Police reported. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. 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. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth in the country, from the citizenship of their parents, or by naturalization. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. 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. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. In September, President Hernndez accused those who advocate for same-sex marriage of attacking Christian principles and the notion of the family.. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. In 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota forced more than 55,000 to move into temporary shelters, according to the Red Cross. Honduras has failed to uphold the Garifunas right to collective tenure over their lands and to promptly and adequately investigate threats and acts of harassment against community leaders, the IACHR stated in 2020. Animals and people wander onto the roads. Call Us : 0353 - 2574030 | nina auchincloss straight. 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. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination, the failure of the government to collect the fines facilitated continued labor law violations. The STSS has the power to declare a work stoppage illegal, and employers may discipline employees consistent with their internal regulations, including by firing strikers, if the STSS rules that a work stoppage is illegal. 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. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. The law criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity characteristics and includes crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. 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). Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. INCIDENTS. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on. Girls and adolescents younger than 19 carry 15 percent of all pregnancies, the Monitoring Mechanism of the Belm do Par Convention reported in 2016. 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. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Discrimination: Although the law accords women and men the same legal rights and status, including property rights in divorce cases, many women did not fully enjoy such rights due to barriers in access to justice and lack of information regarding legal protections. 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. The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. 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. On July 6, unknown assailants shot and killed land rights defender Juan Manuel Moncada in Tocoa, Colon Department. Weak state institutions and abuses by security forces have contributed to persistent gang violence. Credit card skimming is common. Marco Bogran, former director of INVEST-H, the Honduran government entity tasked with providing coronavirus pandemic relief contracts to private firms, remained in pretrial detention awaiting his next court appearance, scheduled for January 31, 2022. World Bank statistics from 2020 put net enrollment for primary school above 90 percent, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Passing on blind corners is common. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance, For fire and public safety emergencies, dial. The government failed to control pervasive gang-related violence and criminal activity within the prisons. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. As of September inspectors conducted 8,846 total inspections, compared with 4,102 total inspections for the same period in 2020. 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. Although Honduras has reduced its homicide rate by half since 2011, it remains one of the worlds highest, with 44.8 murders per 100,000 population in 2019. 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. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. 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. 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 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. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. Her retrial was scheduled for February 2022. Persons suspected of any of 21 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Employers rarely paid the minimum wage in the agricultural sector and paid it inconsistently in other sectors. A 2019 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights report noted there were insufficient hospital beds and inadequate supplies at the only hospital that serviced Gracias a Dios Department, home to most of the Miskito community. The government provided victims of sexual violence access to other health-care services. Media linked her killing to organized criminal groups and drug trafficking organizations. 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. 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. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. Prison conditions were harsh and at times life threatening due to pervasive gang-related violence and the governments failure to control criminal activity within the prisons. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. 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. Journalists; environmental activists; human rights defenders; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals; and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted for violence. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. 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. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. Physical Conditions: Prisoners suffered from severe overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of adequate sanitation and medical care, and, in some prisons, lack of adequate ventilation and lighting. Also see the Department of Labors Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings. A bill was introduced in 2019 to prevent, assist, and protect people internally displaced by violence. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Following anticorruption protests in 2015, President Hernandez signed an agreement with the Organization of American States to form the Mission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. The Secretariat of Human Rights served as an effective advocate for human rights within the government. Deportation, Circular Migration and Organized Crime Honduras Case Study; Download the Publication; Honduras: Information Gathering Mission Report; Violence in Honduras: an Analysis of the Failure in Public Security and the State'S Response to Criminality; Opendocpdf.Pdf; Honduras Elites and Organized Crime; Honduras 2019 Crime & Safety Report Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. The court found that Hernndez suffered harassment by police the night before she was killed, the police and military had effective control of the streets on the night she died, and Honduras conducted no effective investigation into her killing. 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. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. The Cattrachas Lesbian Network reported 17 violent deaths of LGBTQI+ persons as of August. Crime Information for Tourists in Honduras Crime is widespread in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors and residents alike. Roads have poor lighting and markings. The STSS did not approve any authorizations through September. 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. Through August CONADEH received six reports of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers should be aware, however, that the assistance the Embassy can provide is limited to making sure U.S. citizens are not treated differently from local detainees and providing them with a list of local attorneys. Infiltrators: corruption in El Salvador has made safety strides and is not as dangerous as it used be! The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. An Ojai police car is parked on Thacher Road. The document was compiled from various Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System, The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a. Women with disabilities are not included in general policies to prevent violence against women. A 59-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was . CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. 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. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. Gangs control some of the taxi services. The law grants workers the right to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and strike. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. 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. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. 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. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. More than half of the men and two-thirds of the women were in pretrial detention, according to official statistics. 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. There were different methodologies to measure the size of the informal economy, and a March 2020 UNDP report estimated that 82 percent of workers were part of the informal economy. 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. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. The law prohibits all the worst forms of child labor. As of August it continued to provide protection to 12 journalists, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. 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 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. Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. 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. Transgender women were particularly vulnerable to employment and education discrimination; many could find employment only as sex workers, increasing their vulnerability to violence and extortion. Major urban centers and drug trafficking routes experienced the highest rates of violence. 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. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Contraception supplies continued to be limited. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. 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. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. 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. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Employers frequently penalized agricultural workers for taking legally authorized days off. 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. 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. 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. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced because of violence between 2004 and 2018, the government reported. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas. 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. Journalists; environmental activists; human rights defenders; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. 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. Civil society continued to raise problems with minimum wage violations, highlighting agricultural companies in the south as frequent violators. 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. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. The average age of first contact with gangs is 13 years old, a 2020 UN Development Programme report found. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. 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. 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. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The Public Ministry also has the Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. 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. Both the secretariat and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. 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. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. Honduras is one of the Western Hemispheres deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. Honduras is listed as a high-risk country in the INFORM risk index and according to Insight-Crime, it is among the most violent . 19 ianuarie 2023 The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education. 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. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. As a result of Honduran government efforts in close cooperation with the United States, homicide rates have fallen from 86.0 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 43.6 per 100,000 at the end of 2019. 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. 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. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Regulations for implementing the law remained under development as of November. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. 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. In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. The government closed two pretrial detention centers in April due to low numbers of these types of pretrial detainees. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. There were reports of violence related to land conflicts and criminal activity. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Corruption along with a lack of investigative resources and judicial delays led to widespread impunity, including in security forces. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. For information or questions concerning a country's animal disease status and restrictions please contact the APHIS Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product Import and Export at: USDA-APHIS. In July, the US released the Engel List, listing individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala allegedly associated with corruption and undemocratic acts. The law provides that police may make arrests only with a warrant unless they make the arrest during the commission of a crime, there is strong suspicion that a person has committed a crime and might otherwise evade criminal prosecution, or they encounter a person in possession of evidence related to a crime. 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. honduras crime and safety report 2021. by | Jan 19, 2023 | excluded values calculator | h10 rubicon palace sea view room | Jan 19, 2023 | excluded values calculator | h10 rubicon palace sea view room Publishing or 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. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (Colectivo and Rolatero) in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times.
