Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Download Historical Data Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. Share this via WhatsApp Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry and new national identification cards, and new technology that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. The law prohibits the use of children younger than 18 for exhibitions or performances of a sexual nature or in the production of pornography. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. The rainy season usually runs May-November. To reduce overcrowding in response to the pandemic, the legislature approved alternatives to pretrial detention and judges have released more than 1,600 people. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents ; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious restrictions on free expression and They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Major urban centers and drug trafficking routes experienced the highest rates of violence. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Abortion is illegal in Honduras under all circumstances, with prison sentences of up to six years. Contraception supplies continued to be limited. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. ; 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 law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. 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. Civil society groups reported that women often did not report domestic violence or withdrew charges because they feared, or were economically dependent on, the aggressor. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce this right. Official data on forced internal displacement, especially displacement due to violence, was limited in part because gangs controlled many of the neighborhoods that were sources of internal displacement (see section 6, Displaced Children). If the STSS grants permission, children between 14 and 16 may work a maximum of four hours a day, and those between 16 and 18 may work up to six hours a day. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. Penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and monetary fines. The law permits strikes by workers in export-processing zones and free zones for companies that provide services to industrial parks, but it requires that strikes not impede the operations of other factories in such parks. 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. gangs are the most active and powerful. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or opposition party policies. Deputies arrested James Weatherly, 63, after serving a search warrant on a property in the 1300 block of West First Street in Halsey, an agency news release said. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. Contact OSACsLatin Americateam with any questions or to join. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Infiltrators: corruption in El Salvador has made safety strides and is not as dangerous as it used be! honduras crime and safety report 2021 Hakkmzda. Regulations for implementing the law remained under development as of November. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. He was arrested again in April for separate but related charges. 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. Marco Bogran, former director of INVEST-H, the Honduran government entity tasked with providing coronavirus pandemic relief contracts to private firms, remained in pretrial detention awaiting his next court appearance, scheduled for January 31, 2022. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Officers filed a report for theft at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Kearney Street in Manhattan. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. There were numerous reports of government corruption during the year. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. By law women have equal access to educational opportunities. 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. 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, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). 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. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. OSAC encourages travelers to, to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. The law states that a womans employment should be appropriate according to her physical state and capacity. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. The STSS has the power to declare a work stoppage illegal, and employers may discipline employees consistent with their internal regulations, including by firing strikers, if the STSS rules that a work stoppage is illegal. Review the State Departments webpage on. Since 2010, 42 journalists have been killed, UNESCO reported. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. Honduras fragile institutions fail to protect the rights of children, including adolescents, and ensure that they have access to basic services such as education and healthcare, the IACHR reported in 2019. 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. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. 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. On April 27, the Public Ministry filed an indictment against police officer Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento for the February 6 murder of Keyla Martinez in La Esperanza, Intibuca Department. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. 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. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice-sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. A federal grand jury on Friday indicted the man accused of shooting two Jewish men in February with hate crime and firearm offenses, the US Attorney's Office for the Central The law requires that persons with disabilities have access to buildings, but few buildings were accessible, and the government did not effectively implement laws or programs to provide such access. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. From 2015 through 2019, authorities arrested 4,196 gang members, the National Police reported. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. Credit card skimming is common. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State The law requires prisoners to work at least five hours a day, six days a week. 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 government took some steps to address corruption at high levels in government agencies, including arresting and charging senior officials on COVID-related procurement corruption. The government closed two pretrial detention centers in April due to low numbers of these types of pretrial detainees. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. Although the law prohibits such practices, government officials received complaints and investigated alleged abuses by members of the security forces on the streets and in detention centers. The law allows persons charged with some felonies to avail themselves of bail and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Received a complaint about honduras crime and safety report 2021 at Pioneer Park with murder November 2017 shorter! Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. In 2022, 34 femicides have been registered as of 21 In 2022, 34 femicides were registered and 17. . Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. 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. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. While all formal workers are entitled to social security, there were reports that both public- and private-sector employers failed to pay into the social security system. Animals and people wander onto the roads. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. The government investigated violence and threats of violence against union leaders. 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 Assassinations and violence continue under military supervision. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). 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. The Secretariat of Human Rights provided training to security forces to reinforce respect for human rights. 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. 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. Many prisoners had access to weapons and other contraband, inmates attacked other inmates with impunity, and inmates and their associates outside prison threatened prison officials and their families. These efforts were insufficient due to limited political will, inadequate staffing, limited or no services in rural areas, absence of or inadequate training and awareness of domestic violence among police and other authorities, and a pattern of male-dominant culture and norms. 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. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. 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. Defendants may receive free assistance from an interpreter. Informal Sector: According to the STSS, approximately 75 percent of workers worked in the informal economy, equivalent to approximately 2.7 million persons. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. 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. 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 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. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. On April 23, the Public Ministry arrested and charged Josue Exequiel Martinez Martinez, Siriaco Mejia Santos, Francisco Lopez Lazo, and Mario Anibal Lopez Velasquez for the December 2020 murder of Felix Vasquez. Such an order may be effective for up to six days, after which the judge must hold a pretrial hearing to examine whether there is probable cause to continue pretrial detention. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination, the failure of the government to collect the fines facilitated continued labor law violations. 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. 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 law prohibits illicit association, defined as gatherings by persons bearing arms, explosive devices, or dangerous objects with the purpose of committing a crime, and prescribes prison terms of two to four years and a moderate fine for anyone who convokes or directs an illicit meeting or demonstration. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. Between January and March this year, authorities have destroyed . Honduras ranked second in the world regarding the number of killings of land and environmental defenders per capita, according to the NGO Global Witness. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. The Public Ministry reported two such cases in judicial processing and five other cases under investigation as of September. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Review OSACs reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, Im Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The Donts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. 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). International organizations, the United States, and the United Kingdom have expressed their support for Santos work. The municipalities in which kidnappings were reported include: Districto Central (4), Jacaleapa (1), Trojes (1), Siguatepeque (1), Puerto Cortes (1), Lejamani (1), Tocoa (1), Tela (1), and Comayagua (1). The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. 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. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. 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. 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. 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. From January to June, the OV-UNAH documented eight violent deaths in prisons. 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. 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. The legal age of consent is 18. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. In addition the center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by natural disasters during 2020. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. The law presumes an accused person is innocent. If a victims physical injuries do not reach the severity required to categorize the violence as a criminal act, the legal penalty for a first offense is a sentence of one to three months of community service. In these sectors employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. 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. Passing on blind corners is common. In August, a former director of the Honduran hydroelectric company DESA was convicted of organizing the 2016 assassination of environmental and Indigenous rights defender Berta Cceres, who opposed construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Gualcarque river. The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. As of September the STSS had an insufficient number of inspectors to enforce the law effectively. 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. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. 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. 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). 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. 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. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Efforts to reform public security institutions have stalled. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. For more in-depth information, review OSACs. (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and, (small buses that pick up multiple riders). Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as. Counterfeit medicines are available in, (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in, Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. 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 law was not effectively enforced, and weak public institutional structures contributed to the inadequate enforcement. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported 15 arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while 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. The government generally respected these provisions. in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. Employers frequently penalized agricultural workers for taking legally authorized days off. Union leaders and labor activists in both the public and private sector face harassment, dismissal, and violence for their activities. The government did not effectively enforce the law. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. As a result, there is no longer free travel between Honduras and Nicaragua. Periodic medical evaluations had not found Lobo healthy enough to proceed. Impunity remains the norm. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. 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. These workers are not covered by the contributory social security system and are not protected by the labor code. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. 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. salvation army federal tax id number,