Bureau of Diplomatic Security
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. 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. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Honduras is one of the Western Hemispheres deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. 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. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. 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. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is sufficient to deter violations and commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor code violations. The law was not effectively enforced, and weak public institutional structures contributed to the inadequate enforcement. 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. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. 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. Anti-corruption prosecutors have been left defenseless. 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. Penalties for facilitating child sex trafficking are six to 12 years in prison and monetary fines. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. For more in-depth information, review OSACs. Honduras Crime. Safety and crime information on Honduras Weak state institutions and abuses by security forces have contributed to persistent gang violence. In July, the US released the Engel List, listing individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala allegedly associated with corruption and undemocratic acts. Both the STSS and the courts may order a company to reinstate workers, but the STSS lacked the personnel and transportation resources to verify compliance. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. 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. 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. 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. The trial began five years after the prize-winning activist's murder. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. On July 25, media reported individuals shot and killed Liberal Party congressional candidate and former congresswoman Carolina Echeverria Haylock in Tegucigalpa. HONDURAS / 19 APR 2022 BY SETH ROBBINS EN. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Public-sector trade unionists raised concerns regarding government interference in trade union activities, including its suspension or ignoring of collective agreements and its dismissals of union members and leaders. In January, legislators increased the majority needed to amend the provision banning abortion from two-thirds to three-quarters. honduras crime and safety report 2021. Her most recent evaluation was in August, and the court declared her fit to stand trial in September. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. 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. Girls and adolescents younger than 19 carry 15 percent of all pregnancies, the Monitoring Mechanism of the Belm do Par Convention reported in 2016. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. UNHCR Factsheet March 2022 - Honduras | ReliefWeb Since its inception in 2016, MACCIH has worked with the Public Ministry to achieve success on several significant cases, including against current and former public officials. Established in 2016 by the government and the OAS, MACCIH contributed to the prosecution of 133 people, including congresspeople and senior officials, 14 of whom stood trial. CONAPREV reported 13 violent deaths in prisons as of September. Wage and Hour Laws: There are 45 categories of monthly minimum wage, based on the industry and the size of a companys workforce; the minimum average was above the poverty line. Share this via WhatsApp The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment; penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. The Public Ministry reported two such cases in judicial processing and five other cases under investigation as of September. Through September the secretariat trained 2,626 law enforcement officials in human rights and international humanitarian law. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Counterfeit medicines are available in, (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in, Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Coca Growing, Cocaine Production Reach New Heights in Honduras These workshops are part of a multiphase effort to promote transparency, cooperation,. 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. 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. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. 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. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. Review OSACs reports, The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for, The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. 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. World Report 2022: Honduras | Human Rights Watch 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. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly funded and staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. honduras crime and safety report 2021mary calderon quintanilla 27 februari, 2023 / i list of funerals at luton crematorium / av / i list of funerals at luton crematorium / av A bill was introduced in 2019 to prevent, assist, and protect people internally displaced by violence. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. It was unclear how many of these threats were related to the victims professions or activism. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. 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. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. The Ministries of Security and of Defense both have human rights offices that coordinate human rights-related activities with the Secretariat of Human Rights. 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. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or organized criminal groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition. The Secretariat of Human Rights served as an effective advocate for human rights within the government. In 2013, Honduras reformed the penal code to recognize femicide as a crime. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. 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. The law does not criminalize domestic violence but provides penalties of up to 12 years in prison for violence against a family member, depending on the severity of the assault and aggravating circumstances. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. 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. In most prisons only inmates who purchased bottled water or had water filters in their cells had access to potable water. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. As of August it continued to provide protection to 12 journalists, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. 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 government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining, and the government failed to enforce applicable laws effectively. 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. From January to July, 7,007 accompanied and 676 unaccompanied Honduran children requested asylum. Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. 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. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. U.S. Department of State. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. In July, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) and the IACHR urged the government to refrain from charging Garifuna women with damage, threats, theft, and usurpation of lands. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. Abortion is illegal in Honduras under all circumstances, with prison sentences of up to six years. Pandy was a human rights and land rights activist. Victims were primarily impoverished individuals in both rural and urban areas (see section 7.c.). LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. 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. 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. Review OSACs reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? The 2022 Annual Report briefly summarizes RPD's experience in public safety throughout the year with notable activity from the Department's four divisions: Patrol, Investigations, Services and Community Services. Natural Disasters Risk: Medium. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Activists say the governments Mechanism for the Protection of Journalists, Human Rights Defenders, and Justice Activists, created in 2015, is ineffective. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. 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. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. 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. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. 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. 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. As of August 5, 174 femicides have been committed in Honduras in 2021 according to the Women's Rights Center, a Honduran nongovernmental organization. honduras crime and safety report 2021 - smartfxmarket.com 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. Honduras | Food Safety and Inspection Service Honduras voted in favor of an OAS resolution rejecting Venezuelas December 2020 elections, which have been widely considered fraudulent. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported 15 arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. Asylum seekers and refugees continued to face acute protection risks in border zones. A 59-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was . In 2019, seven others were convicted for carrying out the killing. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced because of violence between 2004 and 2018, the government reported. The groups most likely to be internally displaced are children subjected to forced gang recruitment, professionals and business owners who face extortion, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT people and members of ethnic minorities who face violence and discrimination, the IACHR has reported. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Violators face penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of their professional licenses, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. honduras crime and safety report 2022. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y Pandillas), with members from the police, military, and Attorney Generals Office. nonpublic school not seeking state approval louisiana. Most child labor occurred in rural areas. 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. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. 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. 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). 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 Is Honduras Safe to Visit in 2022 - What to Expect - On The View Persons from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continued to experience discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services. 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. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. 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. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. Riverdale, MD 20737. The government maintained the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of Persons Displaced by Violence and created the Directorate for the Protection of Persons Internally Displaced by Violence within the Secretariat of Human Rights. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. Credible allegations of corruption in the STSS continued. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Defendants may receive free assistance from an interpreter. There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. In October, Honduras was elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 term. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside 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. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. 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.
Catching Skipjack At Kentucky Dam,
Articles H