From January to September 2021, 31,894 Hondurans requested asylum in Mexico, the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (COMAR) reportedfiling more than 35 percent of Mexicos total asylum petitions. The Public Ministry also has the Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. Rochester Police Department shares 2022 annual report The National Police is responsible for avoiding and investigating crimes in Honduras, and consists of the National Preventive Police and different special units focused on anti-gang and anti . 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. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . In most prisons only inmates who purchased bottled water or had water filters in their cells had access to potable water. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce this right. Of those, 37,114 were deported from Mexico and 4,689 from the US. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 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 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. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. 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. Abortion is illegal in Honduras under all circumstances, with prison sentences of up to six years. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Credit card skimming is common. 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. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. There were allegations that companies used collective pacts, which are collective contracts with nonunionized workers, to prevent unionization and collective bargaining because only one collective contract may exist in each workplace. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. 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. Judges face interferenceincluding political pressure, threats, and harassmentfrom the executive branch, private actors with connections to government, and gangs. The IACHR received information on frequent threats of lawsuits and prosecutions, including for slander and libel, hindering human rights work in Honduras. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. 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. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. 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. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups, which was also often the cause of displacement. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Share this via WhatsApp The law prohibits workers from legally striking until after they have attempted and failed to come to agreement with their employer, and it requires workers and employers to participate in a mediation and conciliation process. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. The rainy season usually runs May-November. Honduras Crime. Safety and crime information on Honduras He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. Voters elected Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party as president for a four-year term scheduled to begin in January 2022. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. According to Human Rights Watch, Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of these groups. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. There have been repeated allegations of collusion between security forces and criminal organizations. Organized criminal groups, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes and committed acts of homicide, torture, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, intimidation, and other threats and violence directed against human rights defenders, judicial authorities, lawyers, business community members, journalists, bloggers, women, and other vulnerable populations. Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. 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). Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population; as of September the National Prison Institute reported 106 prisoners had been treated for tuberculosis. International observers acknowledged some of these irregularities but reported they were not systematic and not widespread enough to affect the outcome of the presidential election. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. On July 5, the National Tribunal Court found Roberto David Castillo Mejia guilty for his role as one of the alleged intellectual authors of her murder. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. Most crime victims are members of rival gangs, small business owners who resist gang extortion, passengers on public transportation, or those involved in land tenure disputes. 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. 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. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. Download Historical Data Nevertheless, Honduras had yet to sign the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escaz . 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 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. Media reported prison riots, violent confrontations, and killings between gang members in prisons throughout the year. The Linn County Sheriff's Office . Media linked her killing to organized criminal groups and drug trafficking organizations. 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. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. 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. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. 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). honduras crime and safety report 2021. 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. 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. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of space for social distancing combined with the lack of adequate sanitation made prison conditions even more life threatening during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many petitions for pandemic release have been rejected. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. The law prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of emergency contraception for any reason, including for survivors of sexual violence. Cruise ship industry contacts report that approximately one million U.S. citizens enter the country by ship every year, primarily in Roatn, but also in La Ceiba on the northern coast. 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. International organizations, the United States, and the United Kingdom have expressed their support for Santos work. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. 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. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. Publishing or
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. 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. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. The government allocated a budget of nearly 21 million lempiras ($865,000) for the continued operation of a protection mechanism for journalists, human rights defenders, and judicial-sector operators. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. The safety situation in Honduras has been deteriorating in recent years due to gang violence and organized crime. 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. Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (. ) The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 7, the total prison population was 20,768 in 25 prisons and one detention center. The Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated abuses by police forces. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. OSAC The Secretariat of Human Rights reported three prisoner deaths due to COVID-19 through September. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. 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. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. The court ordered Honduras to train security forces to investigate anti-LGBT violence and to adopt a process allowing people to change the gender listed on their documents to match their identity. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. 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. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated and arrested members of the military accused of human rights abuses. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. In addition, Honduras is situated in an active seismic zone, so tremors are to be expected. World Report 2022: Honduras | Human Rights Watch Share this via Email 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. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands.