honduras crime and safety report 2022

Credit card skimming is common. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. 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. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. They had limited representation in the national government and consequently little direct input into decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions, and the allocation of natural resources. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. According to the Inter-American Press Association, 29 journalists were beneficiaries of official protective measures. 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. Persons suspected of any of 21 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. 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. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. ; 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 Ministries of Security and of Defense both have human rights offices that coordinate human rights-related activities with the Secretariat of Human Rights. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. Independent Monitoring: The government generally permitted prison visits by independent local and international human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. An Ojai police car is parked on Thacher Road. It named 21 from Honduras, including former President Porfirio Lobo Sosa (2010-2014), who became ineligible for visas and admission to the US. On June 17, a riot between alleged members of the 18th Street and MS-13 gangs in the maximum-security prison La Tolva in Moroceli, El Paraiso Department, resulted in five dead and 39 injured. 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. Employers frequently penalized agricultural workers for taking legally authorized days off. According to the secretariat, the system was designed for approximately 10,600 inmates. Occupational Safety and Health: The government did not effectively enforce occupational safety and health standards, particularly in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. 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 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. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. On March 28, transgender activist Vanessa Zuniga was killed in Tela, Atlantida Department. Children often worked on melon, coffee, okra, and sugarcane plantations as well as in other agricultural production; scavenged at garbage dumps; worked in the forestry and fishing sectors; worked as domestic servants; peddled goods such as fruit; begged; washed cars; hauled goods; and labored in limestone quarrying and lime production. 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. An independent press and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. By law all minors between the ages of 14 and 18 in most industries must receive special permission from the STSS to work, and the STSS must perform a home study to verify that there is an economic need for the child to work and that the child does not work outside the country or in hazardous conditions, including in offshore fishing. The STSS did not approve any authorizations through September. Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, 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. In addition the law prohibits strikes in a wide range of economic activities that the government has designated as essential services or that it considers would affect the rights of individuals in the larger community to security, health, education, and economic and social well-being. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. 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. Share this via Reddit According to Human Rights Watch, Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of these groups. . EFR CPR/AED; 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. By law the STSS may fine companies that violate the right to freedom of association. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. These crimes may have been the result of tips from sources surveilling the airport arrival area. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Inconsistent, retroactive implementation of provisions of the revised code led to logjams in the legal system and impunity for some of the accused. A revision to the penal code that entered into force in June 2020 broadly reduces criminal penalties for corruption by officials. With Autocrats on the Defensive, Can Democrats Rise to the Occasion. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. 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. 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. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Major cities (e.g. 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. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. 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). The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. In October, Honduras was elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 term. The security situation is expected to continue to deteriorate in 2020 and 2021. Deportation, Circular Migration and Organized Crime Honduras Case Study; Download the Publication; Honduras: Information Gathering Mission Report; Violence in Honduras: an Analysis of the Failure in Public Security and the State'S Response to Criminality; Opendocpdf.Pdf; Honduras Elites and Organized Crime; Honduras 2019 Crime & Safety Report drivers licenses, vehicle registration). OSAC encourages travelers to, to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. The law regulates child labor, sets the minimum age for employment at age 14, and regulates the hours and types of work that minors younger than 18 may perform. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. Asylum seekers and refugees continued to face acute protection risks in border zones. The law also sanctions abortion providers. 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. , 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. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. 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. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Many employers discriminated against women. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. From 2015 through 2019, authorities arrested 4,196 gang members, the National Police reported. Honduras is listed as a high-risk country in the INFORM risk index and according to Insight-Crime, it is among the most violent . In September, the OAS and Honduras signed an agreement to allow an OAS electoral observation mission to the November elections to elect president, legislators, and local authorities. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. Because labor inspectors continued to be concentrated in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, full labor inspections and follow-up visits to confirm compliance were far less frequent in other parts of the country. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. 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. Advanced Scuba Diver; Ultimate Rescue Diver; Specialties. The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. 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. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. According to UNDP data, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated abuses by the military. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. 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 law prohibits the use of children younger than 18 for exhibitions or performances of a sexual nature or in the production of pornography. 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. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. 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. In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. 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). NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination and promote equal access to government services or employment opportunities. Download Historical Data The secretariat reported assisting 127 IDPs as of August. Powerful special interests, including organized criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. The government considers rape a crime of public concern, and the state prosecutes rapists even if victims do not press charges. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Military Arsenals Provide Convenient Source of Weapons for Latin American Gangs ARMS TRAFFICKING / 4 OCT 2022 Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. By law women have equal access to educational opportunities. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. 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. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Journalists; environmental activists; human rights defenders; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and. 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. La Ceiba, Trujillo) and major hotels; other tourist installations have increased private and police security. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as. Share this via Twitter Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth in the country, from the citizenship of their parents, or by naturalization. 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 law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. The document was compiled from various For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. 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. In addition, Honduras is situated in an active seismic zone, so tremors are to be expected.