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. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated abuses by the military. The governments National Policy to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination seeks to promote equality and combat discrimination related to the countrys two Afro-descendent and seven Indigenous groups (see below), 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. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. Informal Sector: Most workers were in the informal sector. 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, f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a foreign environment. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Employers frequently refused to comply with Secretariat of Labor orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. Review OSACs report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The government provided survivors of sexual violence access to other health-care services, such as psychological and social support as well as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony. 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 does not authorize pretrial detention for crimes with a maximum sentence of five years or less. However, visitors have reported being robbed while walking on isolated beaches. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. The government operated six consolidated reporting and support centers in major cities and one mobile unit for the departments of Yoro and Corts where women could report crimes, seek medical and psychological attention, and receive other services. Media noted that family members often faced long delays or were unable to visit detainees. Prisoners suffered from gross overcrowding; insufficient access to food, water, and medical supplies; violence; and alleged abuse by prison officials. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. 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. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. Gangs control some of the taxi services. The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. The law prohibits and criminalizes all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. Nonetheless, many prisoners remained in custody after completing their full sentences, and sometimes even after an acquittal, because officials failed to process their releases expeditiously. 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. Both the Secretariat of Labor and the courts may order a company to reinstate workers, but the secretariat lacked the personnel and transportation resources to verify compliance. Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. 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. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. NGOs and other civil society groups generally considered the commissioner independent but at times ineffective. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . The Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), established in 2016 through an agreement between the government and the Organization of American States. Authorities charged two individuals with her murder, one of whom remained at large. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. 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. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. Avoid traveling at night and always drive with doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. It prohibits employer retribution against employees for engaging in trade union activities. The OSAC information exchange mechanism also . The Institute for National Statistics put net enrollment for primary school at 77 percent in 2021, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that in 2020, 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. OSAC 2022-N-0025, Standard for Initial Response at Scenes by Scene Investigators. Although penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and fines, they were not sufficient to deter violations. Transiting migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations continued to face acute security risks in border zones. Contraception supplies were limited, as were many other critical medicines, due to the governments dismantling of its public health procurement system in May. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. As of September, CONAPREV reported the countrys detention center for high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials, held 29 individuals. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. 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. On September 22, the court in a preliminary hearing charged Eber Ezequiel Espinoza and Erick David Macas Rodrguez with quadruple homicide. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Avoid using. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing 911. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. The Secretariat of Labor had an insufficient number of inspectors to enforce the wage, hour, and OSH laws effectively. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. Campbell, who had been on the run for five years after being charged with money laundering in Honduras, was arrested in June 2021 in Nicaragua. 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. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. how to horizontally center a div in bootstrap. Impunity for such crimes was high. The legal age of consent is 18. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. On July 4, alleged members of the 18th Street gang killed six fellow gang members at the El Pozo maximum security prison in Ilama, Santa Brbara Department. -threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Its support focused on providing training to officers of the National Institute for Migration, ensuring support to deal with the backlog of asylum claims submitted during the COVID-19 lockdown, and supporting the improvement of reception conditions for asylum seekers. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. A study by the National Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) placed the country as the most violent territory in Central America, with a homicide rate of 38.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Persons suspected of any of 21 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. No cases were reported during the year. Discrimination: 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. The law provides citizens the right to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on nearly universal and equal suffrage. 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. ; and read the State Departments webpage on, Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. The Public Ministry reported 11 cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. Victims were primarily impoverished individuals in both rural and urban areas (see section 7.c.). Child Abuse: The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. Corruption: On June 10, Marco Bogrn, former director of INVEST-H, the government entity tasked with making COVID-19 pandemic relief contracts with private firms, was found guilty of aggravated fraud and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 1.475 billion lempiras ($58.7 million). President Juan Orlando Hernndez of the National Party (PN) was subsequently reelected in 2017 by a narrow margin. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape, including spousal rape. However, protesters will also block, key intercity transportation routes and intracity intersections with burning tires, rocks and other debris, to include the roads leading to the international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and the CA-5 and CA-11 highways. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Office of Global Criminal Justice Office of International Religious Freedom Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. 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 places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. Prisoners can submit complaints through a lawyer that may emerge from an NGO before the Public Ministry. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required Secretariat of Labor-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. 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. The Secretariat of Labor posted job opportunity announcements that specified a gender requirement. Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo was found guilty of fraud and misappropriation of public funds during a retrial on March 17. 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Honduras, An official website of the United States Government, https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? Improvements: On March 10, the armed forces officially transferred control of the National Prison Institute to the National Police as part of a government initiative to demilitarize prisons. Publishing or Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government, Section 5. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. Honduras is one of the Western Hemisphere's deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. 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 country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. 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. 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. The Public Ministry also has a Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. Powerful special interests, including criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. On October 17, the Public Ministry charged four unit officials for their involvement in Prezs killing. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. On May 31, members of the National Anti-Gang Unit shot and killed Wilson Ariel Prez Hernndez in San Pedro Sula, Corts Department. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. Latest News. 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 law permits fines for wage and hour violations; these were commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud. UN human rights experts stated the lack of access to contraception, particularly in rural areas, together with the prohibition of emergency contraception, contributed to a high rate of adolescent pregnancy. Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, and asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern. Although many press outlets were politically aligned, the press and prevailing democratic norms combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. 04 Jan. fire department utv grants 1 Comment. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem, and the government did not effectively enforce the law. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. The Ministries of Security and of Defense both have human rights offices that coordinate human rights-related activities with the Secretariat of Human Rights. As of August, CONADEH had received 35 complaints. 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 system. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 33 cases of arbitrary arrest through August. According to a November 2019 study entitled Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the Central District and Comayaguela, 48% of passengers reported having been assaulted one time in the past 12 months while traveling on a Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. 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. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State.OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a . 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. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System, The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a. The law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion or affiliation, marital status, race or ethnicity, national origin, language, place of residence, religion, family or economic situation, disability, or health, including HIV or AIDS status. On April 28, the National Congress repealed the 2014 hourly wage law, thus bringing all employees under the national labor code and eliminating the previous differences in labor benefits between hourly, temporary, and permanent employees. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. OSAC Crime and Safety Report - Honduras (updated March 2020) Copan, Honduras Pre-Trip Guide with student-generated content Jordan Your Guide to Jordan ISC with student-generated content Amman, Jordan Pre-trip Guide with student-generated content Perdomo was charged with the February 2021 murder of Keyla Martnez in La Esperanza, Intibuc Department. Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. NOTE: OSAC RESOURCE TASK GROUP (RTG . There were no reports of antisemitic acts. For more in-depth information, review OSACs Honduras country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. 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. There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Todd J. 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. 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 media also engaged in self-censorship to avoid losing lucrative advertising contracts with the government. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. , 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. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Gracias a Diosis a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. . 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. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2021. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. The law permits fines, and the penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. On December 2, the court found Aarn Jeriel lvarez Pavn guilty of Rodrguezs murder. gangs are the most active and powerful. 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. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. 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. Same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas. In addition, the law limits strikes in a wide range of sectors that the government designates as essential services or that it considers would affect the rights of individuals in the larger community to security, health, education, and economic and social well-being. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has since added him to the agency's Top 10 Most Wanted List, offering up to $100,000 for information leading to his arrest. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Persons from Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continued to experience discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services. 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. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery.
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osac crime and safety report honduras