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. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Persons with disabilities, indigenous and Afro-descendant persons, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with HIV or AIDS also faced discrimination in employment and occupation (see section 6). Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. honduras crime and safety report 2021 Hakkmzda. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated and arrested members of the military accused of human rights abuses. 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. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. ; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . Judges face interferenceincluding political pressure, threats, and harassmentfrom the executive branch, private actors with connections to government, and gangs. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Posted at 09:48h in michael deluise matt leblanc by Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. 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 November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. 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. Sale 2022; Contact; Follow us INSTAGRAM + 18morebest coffeethe bakers wife, mr foxx, and more Contul meu Intr n cont do they still make the marathon candy bar. 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. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit the participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process, and they did participate. Overseas Security Advisory Council In 2019, seven others were convicted for carrying out the killing. Inconsistent, retroactive implementation of provisions of the revised code led to logjams in the legal system and impunity for some of the accused. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. 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. The average age of first contact with gangs is 13 years old, a 2020 UN Development Programme report found. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Government Human Rights Bodies: A semiautonomous commissioner for human rights, Blanca Izaguirre, served as an ombudsperson and investigated complaints of human rights abuses. The Supreme Court, particularly its president, exerts excessive control over the appointment and removal of judges, and career instability limits judges independence. The law also requires that public-sector workers involved in the refining, transportation, and distribution of petroleum products submit their grievances to the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) before striking. Authorities often did not effectively enforce the law. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. 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. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. 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. Also see the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Thirty-four percent of women ages 20 to 24 had married when they were 15 to 19, a UN Population Fund study conducted from 2005 to 2019 found. The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. Coca farms and cocaine production camps are proliferating in Honduras, showing that the illicit crop has taken root in the country after years of low-level experimentation. LGBT people are frequently targets of discrimination, extortion, and violence from gangs, the national civil police and military police, and members of the public. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. These workshops are part of a multiphase effort to promote transparency, cooperation,. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape of women or men, including spousal rape. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). 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. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Asylum seekers and refugees continued to face acute protection risks in border zones. honduras crime and safety report 2022. 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. 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. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Review the State Departments webpage on security for, Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. The Public Ministry received one report of discrimination based on an individuals disability as of 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. 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; Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. 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. The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? 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. Informal Sector: According to the STSS, approximately 75 percent of workers worked in the informal economy, equivalent to approximately 2.7 million persons. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. 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. Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Internal Displacement, Migration, and Asylum. 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. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. Estimates of the number of children younger than 18 in the countrys workforce ranged from 370,000 to 510,000. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. gangs are the most active and powerful. CONADEH reported 69 cases of alleged torture or cruel and inhuman treatment by security forces through August, while the Public Ministry received 18 such reports. Discrimination is also common in schools, the workplace, and in the home. Anti-corruption prosecutors have been left defenseless. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Gangs exercise territorial control over some neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. Monopoly on the use of force '06 '22 10 1 5 6 5 While the nation-state is recognized by the majority of the population as legitimate, deep mistrust continues to exist between the state and significant parts of its citizens. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. 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. 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. As of September the Public Ministry had received nine reports of racial or ethnic discrimination. He was arrested again in April for separate but related charges. In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Some NGOs reported irregularities, including late delivery of technology needed to transmit results, late opening of the polls, poll workers with varying degrees of preparation and knowledge of the electoral law and processes, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. 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. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. In May and June of 2022, CLDP will host two workshops in Honduras on customs valuation and communication. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but impunity was widespread. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. 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 the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. 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. In October 2019, a thief stole the side view mirrors from a U.S. employees personally owned vehicle while it was parked on a side street near the Embassy. 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. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. The Secretariat of Human Rights stated it was taking every precaution to protect prisoners rights and assure that the work provided opportunities for prisoners to develop skills they could use in legal economic activities after their release. The law also sanctions abortion providers. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment; penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. Riverdale, MD 20737. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. . Women, children, and LGBTQI+ migrants and asylum seekers with pending cases were especially vulnerable to abuse. Journalists; environmental activists; human rights defenders; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and. Counterfeit medicines are available inpulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported inFarmacias del Ahorro. 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. On October 7, the National Congress increased penalties for forced labor under the trafficking-in-persons article of the penal code from five to eight years imprisonment to 10 to 15 years, bringing the penalties in line with the penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. The law prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of emergency contraception for any reason, including for survivors of sexual violence. U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Backsliding occurred in cases brought during the four-year mandate of the OAS Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras; several of its cases were dismissed or postponed as courts heard appeals based on the new code. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. The designation requires banks to impose a higher level of scrutiny on politically exposed persons financial transactions. Nevertheless, social discrimination against racial and ethnic groups persisted, as did physical violence. Historically, governments have responded to organized crime with iron-fist security strategies. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. 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. 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. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. The government has an Office for Persons with Disabilities located within the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, but its ability to provide services to persons with disabilities was limited. The Public Ministry reported two such cases in judicial processing and five other cases under investigation as of September. 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. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Animals and people wander onto the roads. 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. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. In addition the center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by natural disasters during 2020. Weak state institutions and abuses by security forces have contributed to persistent gang violence. The Honduran National Polices Special Victims Investigations Unit, formerly known as the Violent Crimes Task Force, investigated crimes against high-profile and particularly vulnerable victims, including journalists as well as judges, lawyers, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community. The IACHR received information on frequent threats of lawsuits and prosecutions, including for slander and libel, hindering human rights work in Honduras. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transgender persons are prohibited from changing their legal gender status. Total "Part 1" crimes violent crimes of homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; and property crimes of burglary, theft and . Independent Monitoring: The government generally permitted prison visits by independent local and international human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. Gracias a Diosis a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 7, the total prison population was 20,768 in 25 prisons and one detention center. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance forHonduras. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500, Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula, Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600, Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. 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. 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. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. By law the STSS may fine companies that violate the right to freedom of association. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. International observers acknowledged some of these irregularities but reported they were not systematic and not widespread enough to affect the outcome of the presidential election. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Under the new inspection law, the STSS has the authority temporarily to shut down workplaces where there is an imminent danger of fatalities; however, there were not enough trained inspectors to deter violations sufficiently. The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. EFR CPR/AED; The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors younger than 18, but the STSS may grant special permission for minors between the ages of 16 to 18 to work in the evening if such employment does not adversely affect their education. In June 2020, Congress passed a new penal code that introduced the crime of internal displacement, punishing, with prison sentences of six to nine years, those who, through violence or intimidation, force someone to abandon or change their place of living. The law prohibits all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. In most prisons only inmates who purchased bottled water or had water filters in their cells had access to potable water. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. The government investigated violence and threats of violence against union leaders. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. 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. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. The law mandates that authorities release detainees whose cases have not yet come to trial and whose time in pretrial detention already exceeds the maximum prison sentence for their alleged crime. The armed forces, which report to the Secretariat of Defense, are responsible for external security but also exercise some domestic security responsibilities in support of the national police and other civilian authorities.