In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. Officials from several ministries conducted additional trainings and awareness-raising activities with support from NGOs and international organizations. 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. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. The government initially allocated 8.93 million lempiras ($357,150) to CICESCT but later decreased its actual disbursement to 6.18 million lempiras ($247,020) due to pandemic-related funds redistribution and budget cuts. Assaults in these areas may be based on tips from sources at airport arrival areas, so visitors are strongly urged to exercise caution in discussing travel plans in public. Widespread poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug trafficking activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate. Story written by Maria ElenaClix, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Honduras. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. Crime Information for Tourists in Ecuador Crime is a severe problem in Ecuador. 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. The government allocated insufficient funds for implementation of the plan and relevant agencies relied on additional support from foreign donors to implement its activities. Instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before you depart, and have small bills available for payment, as taxi drivers often do not make change. This amount was an increase from 5.53 million lempiras ($221,400) provided in 2019, though officials reported they lacked adequate financial and human resources to provide comprehensive victim care, support victims throughout the country, and collect and analyze victim data. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Honduras Country Report 2022. . In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. Caption: Activist Massay Crisantho uses her influence and far-reaching platforms to advocate for the rights of women and girls in the country. Other Honduran government agencies also provided funds from their budgets for victim assistance. According to the UNDP report on Honduras, in 2020, the primary school enrollment rate reached 92%. CICESCT reported using online training platforms to educate stakeholders on the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on trafficking trends and how to adapt. Avoid using Collectivos (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), Roleteros (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and Rapiditos (small buses that pick up multiple riders). Last update: October 2022. Criminal organizations, including gangs, exploit girls in sex trafficking, force children into street begging, and coerce and threaten children and young adults to transport weapons, sell drugs, commit extortion, or serve as lookouts; this occurred primarily in urban areas, but one NGO reported an increase in gang activity in rural areas. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Child victims could receive care from government or NGO shelters, while women had the option of receiving assistance from NGO shelters; there were no specialized shelters for trafficking victims and no shelters that accepted men. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit. In January 2012, the Peace Corps suspended its program in Honduras in order to review the safety and security of its volunteers. "Honduras: Death of Keyla Martnez demands prompt, exhaustive and impartial investigation", 9 February We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Pilar Lagos, Allan Chan, and PaulVanDeCarrfrom the Development Coordination Office (DCO) provided editorial support. Government agencies, including CICESCT, its local committees, the Public Ministry, the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Secretariat of Education, provided anti-trafficking trainings to police, lawyers, judges, other government officials, tourism professionals, civil society organizations, teachers, and members of the public throughout the country; due to the pandemic, the government conducted the majority of trainings virtually, which allowed them to reach more stakeholders and decrease costs. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lima as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Information provided is subject to change without notice. Travelers should always drive with their doors locked and windows rolled up to avoid potential robberies at traffic lights and other places, such as congested downtown streets. Honduras sees 318 cases of femicide in 2021: Report At least 19 women murdered since beginning of 2022, says Honduras Center for Women's Studies Sinan Doan | 27.01.2022 The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. U.S. citizens should exercise caution while sailing or mooring in Honduran waters. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. Medical care is limited. The Honduran government conducts occasional joint police/military patrols in major cities in an effort to reduce crime. The main problems are related to corruption, robbery, and vandalism. Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. . Honduran regulations prohibited charging recruitment fees to workers, but the government did not report enforcement of these regulations in 2020. Honduran law prohibited the prosecution of victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. When possible, travel in groups. 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. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. The new amendments to the penal code lowered the penalties for trafficking crimes, resulting in penalties that were not commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. 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. 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 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. Correspondent John Holman reports from San Pedro Sula in Honduras, a city with the highest murder rate in the world, on how organized crime is devastating co. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. . Traffickers exploit Honduran adults and children in forced labor in street vending, forced begging, domestic service, drug trafficking, and the informal sector in their own country, as well as forced labor in other countries, particularly Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. During the presentation of these findings, Alice Shackelford called for "changing the narrative and expressing our intolerance towards this type of violence". Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500 Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497 Website: http://hn.usembassy.gov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, U.S. Consular Agency San Pedro Sula Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600 Tel: +504-2558-1580 Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. Shall I live on, or shall I die? The law on safe houses needs to be passed! Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Hondurans continue to be affected by MS-13 and Calle 18 gang activity in cities such as Tegucigalpa, Choloma, La Ceiba, Tela, and San Pedro Sula. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. The events targeted members of at-risk groupsincluding children and students, individuals with disabilities, and indigenous personsas well as potential first responders and officials from key sectors such as education and tourism. See the description of highways/areas to be avoided in the Traffic Safety and Road Conditions section below for details. 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. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. The Public Ministry trained 160 prosecutors on human trafficking including on new provisions in the penal code, and the governments judicial training school trained select magistrates, judges, and justices of the peace on human trafficking issues. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. Title insurance is not widely available in Honduras and approximately 80% of the privately held land in the country is either untitled or improperly titled. The new amendments to the penal code lowered the penalties for trafficking crimes, resulting in penalties that were not commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. During the pandemic, violence cases against women increased significantly; the number of emergency calls rose to 282 per day. In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident. There is often a spike in skimming in December and June, when the working population receive Christmas and mid-year bonuses in the form of one extra months salary. Increase efforts to identify victims, including among particularly vulnerable populations such as adult migrants, and provide assistance to all victims, including forced labor victims. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. The UN takes all reports of possible wrongdoing seriously. Read more about the coordinated response to COVID-19. Perpetrators of sexual assaults are often armed. The governments disaggregated victim data included some victims of related crimes such as child pornography; all identified victims were Honduran citizens and included 43 children and 24 adults, 56 females and 10 males, and one LGBTQI+ individual. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Officials flew Garza, a 48-year-old . The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Municipalities With Highest Number of Deaths Attributed to Traffic Accidents 200 150 100 179 177 50 61 52 39 0 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 24 23 23 22 21 19 16, January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. Caption: On 25th November, women and men rallied together to raise awareness of the increasing femicide rates and growing violence against women and girls at a UN-supported event. My appreciation and congratulations to Ana Cruz and the fantastic work of safe houses! Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras urban areas. Criminals expanded the use of social network platforms to recruit victims, often with false promises of employment, and continued to target vulnerable populations. 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 to crime. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through the Spotlight Initiative and in partnership with civil society organizations, launched the "The Other Pandemic" campaign in order to activate a social movement to address and prevent gender-based violence. Caption: Honduras has the highest femicide rates in Latin America. The women who have lost their lives violently this year are women who can no longer contribute to the economy and development of Honduras", she regretted. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Roads have poor lighting and markings. The government maintained strong protection efforts, with CICESCTs immediate response team providing robust assistance to victims throughout the year. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. UNODC works on the development of standards for national crime and criminal justice information systems and for the conduct of victimization surveys. "Indeed, women are the affected ones, but as men, we have a greater opportunity to influence other men and make them reflect on how we impact our sisters, friends and colleagues with our behaviour. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Although the trend has decreased as of 2014, The CICESCT convened a network of 32 government agencies and NGOs and coordinated the governments anti-trafficking efforts, including implementation of the 2016-2020 national anti-trafficking action plan. "My respect to the brave women survivors of domestic violence! Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. In accordance with the governments intersectoral protocol on victim protection, CICESCT coordinated with relevant government institutions and NGOs to provide additional services to victims, including mental health counseling, legal services, medical care, lodging, food, family reintegration, and repatriation. 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; Honduras Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was. Avoid driving at night. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. The campaign includes a docuseries in which the testimonies of women survivors, like Rosa Mara, are central to raise awareness among the Honduran population on zero tolerance of all forms ofviolenceagainstwomenand girls. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. The government and NGOs identified 42 trafficking victims in 2020, including 31 exploited in sex trafficking and 11 in forced labor; two of the labor trafficking victims were children forced to commit unlawful acts. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Although many tourists come to this city, there is a high crime rate, which is worth remembering when planning a trip to this city. As a result of this study, UN Women will be organizing trainings for media outlets on objective and respectful journalism in these types of subjects. UNODC collects data on crime and the operation of criminal justice systems in order to make policy-relevant information and analysis available in a timely manner to the international community. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Anyone with information is strongly encouraged to report the matter. The law on safe houses, which has been stalled in the National Congress since 2018, aims to recognize and fund safe houses to provide care for survivors of multiple forms of violence, ensuring their wellbeing and that of their families. 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. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. 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, Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The government provided 31 victims with witness protection services including measures to protect their identity; shelter; and economic, medical and psychosocial assistance. 2018 toyota rav4 pros and cons. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. The Government of Honduras does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government cooperated with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to investigate trafficking cases and detain suspects. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. 2022 estimated. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. Learn about employment opportunities across the UNSDG. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. Sources indicate that organized criminal organizations have been . While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. An NGO noted courts continued to delay trafficking cases despite a requirement in the anti-trafficking law to process such cases in a timely manner, an issue further exacerbated by the pandemic. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. My decision was to die." Honduras has a high homicide rate, with a murder rate of 36 people per 100,000 in 2020. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. Gracias a Dios is a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen.