Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your image export is now complete. Level of crime: 66.67: High: Crime increasing in the past 3 years: 78.57: . Please check your download folder. El Salvador used to have a high crime rate, but that is not the case anymore. Three U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras between January and September 2013. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. Officials in the Returned Migrant Assistance Center conducted evaluations of returned Hondurans and referred suspected trafficking cases to CICESCT; however, screening for trafficking indicators was not systematic among returned migrants, and the government did not report whether these efforts resulted in identification of any victims during the year. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law and be subject to local penalties. Counterfeit medicines are available in pulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in Farmacias del Ahorro. In 2013, Honduras had the highest rate of violent deaths of women in the world. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas. Useful Information. Traffickers exploit victims within their own homes or communities, including sometimes their own family members or friends. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as Barrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. The government convicted 14 traffickers, including 10 for sex trafficking, two for forced labor, and two for both sex trafficking and forced labor, compared with 34 traffickers convicted in 2019 (33 for sex trafficking/procuring commercial sex acts and one for forced labor) and 16 traffickers (including six for procuring commercial sex acts) convicted in 2018. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. Cattrachas, a lesbian feminist human rights group in Honduras's capital of Tegucigalpa, said 405 LGBTQ people have been reported killed in the country since 2009, according to the Blade. Increase investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of suspected traffickers, including complicit officials and forced labor crimes. In contrast, the enrollment in secondary schools dropped to 52%, while post-secondary education was attended by just 26% of the relevant age group in 2020. . This is the second consecutive year that the murder rate falls below 40 per 100,000 population since 2014, which. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. According to the Global Peace Index, the island of Roatan, as a part of Honduras, shares its ranking of 123 out of 163 countries analyzed. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. "I am a survivor of domestic violence and I am lucky to be alive," said Rosa Maria Perez at the launch of the campaign. I was housebound. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Union leaders and labor activists in both the public and private sector face harassment, dismissal, and violence for their activities. Visas - Most countries do not need a visa in order to enter Honduras for any stays shorter than 30 days.Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your date of arrival. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. Earlier. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. In June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found that Honduras had violated the rights to life and personal integrity of Vicky Hernndez, a transgender woman, sex worker and activist killed during the 2009 coup. The government followed a regional protocol to facilitate the repatriation of victims identified abroad and funded food, transportation, and lodging for such victims through a fund administered by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Quarter of residents in Yangon's poorest areas often go without income, From Grief to Growth: Supporting a Woman Farmer in Lebanon, Reaching the last mile in Uganda: Decentralised Coordination for impact, Strengthening Resident Coordinator Leadership, Violence against women, the other pandemic impacting Honduras, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Visitors can send general inquiries to the communications team. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Please check your download folder. The government maintained prosecution efforts. The Public Ministry trained 160 prosecutors on human trafficking including on new provisions in the penal code, and the governments judicial training school trained select magistrates, judges, and justices of the peace on human trafficking issues. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) It provided a family, a sense of belonging. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Mediaactivism must be part of the change of paradigm; data plays a key role in understanding the impact on the Honduran population of how media report on violence against women. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. There have been frequent incidents of carjacking and highway robbery on a number of roads including the main highway (CA-5) between San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, with the greatest risk between Potrerillos and Pito Solo in the lake area. The pandemic, as well as Hurricanes Eta and Iota, negatively affected economic opportunity and furthered inequality, resulting in an increased number of individuals vulnerable to trafficking. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. An official website of the United States Government, Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. Of November 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 crimes are carried out by acting., 2022, in Uvalde, Texas in Action - Honduras /a > Qatar iverson house . Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. The government has also begun implementing a series of police reforms; it has formed groups such as the National Inter-Agency Security Task Force (FUSINA) and the National Anti-Gang Task Force (FNAMP) to combat crime. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Traffickers particularly target LGBTQI+ Hondurans, migrants, IDPs, persons with disabilities, children in child labor, children whose parents have migrated, and individuals living in areas controlled by organized criminal groups. Victims who tested positive for COVID-19 faced delays or limitations in receiving services from shelters. If I did, I would get beaten up, explained a survivor of gender-based violencewho spoke anonymously with us to protect her safetyduring a visit of UN authorities to a safe house. Violent crime is a serious issue in the entire country, with crimes such as kidnappings, rape, assaults, and murders. Sources indicate that organized criminal organizations have been . Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. Spurred by anger with the government over accusations of public corruption, allegations of involvement in narcotics trafficking, and efforts to pass controversial education reform, protests and demonstrations were near-daily occurrences at times during 2019. The main problems are related to corruption, robbery, and vandalism. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. Hondurans continue to be affected by MS-13 and Calle 18 gang activity in cities such as Tegucigalpa, Choloma, La Ceiba, Tela, and San Pedro Sula. The last two years have shone an unflattering light . Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. One U.S. citizen was reported kidnapped between January and September 2013.. Municipalities With the Highest Number of Homicides, 600 500 400 478 300 410 200 100 251 112 101 100 94 69 61 56 54 54 54 53 50 45 41 40 37 35 0, January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police, Honduran Municipalities With Highest Percentage of Homicides 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0%, Honduran Municipalities With Highest Percentage of Homicides. Honduras remains deeply polarised. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. . Authorities convicted two government officials, one on pimping charges and one for paid sexual relations, for their involvement in sex trafficking crimes in 2017. Crime in Honduras in 2012, according to the U.N., Honduras experienced. For more in-depth information, review OSACs Honduras country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. 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? For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. Although the trend has decreased as of 2014, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. However, with respect to sex trafficking, these penalties were not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Honduran regulations prohibited charging recruitment fees to workers, but the government did not report enforcement of these regulations in 2020. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. 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. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. In comparison, the government identified 75 victims (66 in sex trafficking and 9 in forced labor) and NGOs identified 78 victims in 2019, and the government identified 73 victims (63 in sex trafficking and 10 in forced labor) in 2018. During the presentation of these findings, Alice Shackelford called for "changing the narrative and expressing our intolerance towards this type of violence". All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses. Overall corruption helped facilitate trafficking crimes. The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras BARRIO 18 / 17 JAN 2023 To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Most often, pickpocketing and theft of bags and wallets occur here. The government has established a special tourist police in the resort town of Tela and other tourist destinations including Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and Roatan, but the number of tourist police deployed is small and coverage is limited. The Mexico 2017 Crime and Safety Report for Mexico City by the US Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) indicates that crimes such as armed robberies, kidnappings, car thefts, credit card fraud and residential theft are "daily concerns" (US 24 Feb. 2017). Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. The government also enacted a new penal code provision that brought the definition of trafficking in line with the definition under international law. However, it is situated in a high crime area and has been the site of numerous armed robberies and thefts. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. 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. 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. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. The government modernized its national identification card system and began distributing new national identification cards in February 2021. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. 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. 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. Incidents of crime along roads, including carjacking and kidnapping, are common in Honduras. in Choluteca: the cities of Apacilagua, Orocuina and San Isidro. Honduras Country Report 2022. . Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. Figures likely to be an underestimate, says Global Witness, as land defenders are killed by hitmen, crime groups and governments Published: 28 Sep 2022 More than 1,700 environmental activists . According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2011 Global Study on Homicide, Honduras has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world, with 86 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants. Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system. 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. First Lady Ana Garcia de Hernandezs Migration Task Force continued to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to informing Hondurans about the dangers of irregular migration, including trafficking risks, and the government continued public awareness campaigns warning of trafficking risks along migratory routes through Guatemala and Mexico. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. It is urgent to pass the law on safe houses where women who manage to get away from violent situations are taken care of. The women who have lost their lives violently this year are women who can no longer contribute to the economy and development of Honduras", she regretted. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. Ocean via the Gulf of Fonseca in the Caribbean and access to the local police and property crime 1. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation like U.S. States), including Atlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and Yoro. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. 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. Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. As a result of Honduran government efforts in close cooperation with the United States, homicide rates have fallen from 86.0 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 43.6 per 100,000 at the end of 2019. Major cities (e.g. Crime is widespread in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors and residents alike. Crime Information for Tourists in Honduras Crime is widespread in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors and residents alike. Caption: Honduras has the highest femicide rates in Latin America. "I think it is important that young people, and particularly men, raise awareness about this type of violence," added Daniel Vijil, from the youth institution El Milenio. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. 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. UN teams are now better enabled to support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras urban areas. Honduras removed the offense of sex tourism from its amended penal code, and the government did not investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking cases in the tourism sector. Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. The government adapted its training and awareness-raising activities targeting groups at high risk of trafficking and potential first responders to online platforms, reaching a broader geographic range of stakeholders. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Honduras. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. Crimes against U.S. citizens in the past year have ranged from petty theft to violent offenses, including armed robbery, home invasion, sexual assault, and several instances of murder and attempted murder. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. U.S. citizens are encouraged to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, especially when entering or exiting their homes, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded. 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. Honduras's most dangerous cities or towns: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, El Progreso, El Paraso at Copn, Tocoa, Olancho, La Lima, Puerto Corts. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. Since 2010, Honduras has had one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world, ranging between 59 and 86 per 100,000 according to the U.S. Department of State. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Honduras, visit Honduras.UN.org. Congressional Research Service - Honduras - 2019, 2020. Law enforcement, immigration, and social service providers had written procedures for identifying and assisting victims, including screening for indicators of trafficking among vulnerable populations and referring potential victims to CICESCTs immediate response team. CICESCT sustained its efforts to provide immediate protection to victims and coordinate additional services among other stakeholders without interruption throughout the pandemic. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. Since 1995, 115 U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras; of these, just 32 cases have been resolved. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. These penalties were sufficiently stringent. Humanitarian Assistance: Since April 2021, USAID reached approximately 1.9 million people impacted by recurrent droughts, COVID-19, and severe damage from Hurricanes Eta and Iota in northern. The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia.