The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Honduras, visit Honduras.UN.org. . The government maintained prosecution efforts. OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a . The main problems are related to corruption, robbery, and vandalism. 0. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident. Pilar Lagos, Allan Chan, and PaulVanDeCarrfrom the Development Coordination Office (DCO) provided editorial support. Officials flew Garza, a 48-year-old . The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lima as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. One U.S. citizen was reported kidnapped between January and September 2013.. Caption: Activist Massay Crisantho uses her influence and far-reaching platforms to advocate for the rights of women and girls in the country. Child victims could receive care from government or NGO shelters, while women had the option of receiving assistance from NGO shelters; there were no specialized shelters for trafficking victims and no shelters that accepted men. Increase government funding for victim services, including to NGOs, and anti-trafficking police and prosecutorial units. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Labor inspectors did not identify any suspected trafficking cases in 2020. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. The events targeted members of at-risk groupsincluding children and students, individuals with disabilities, and indigenous personsas well as potential first responders and officials from key sectors such as education and tourism. 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. This report is a result of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and complies with Federal reporting requirements, specifically 20 U.S. Code Section 1092 (f). Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables. 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. 2018 toyota rav4 pros and cons. Crime Information for Tourists in Ecuador Crime is a severe problem in Ecuador. Safety in El Salvador. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. El Salvador used to have a high crime rate, but that is not the case anymore. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Information published on this website may contain errors. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. According to the respected nonpartisan group Honduran Social Forum on External Debt, corruption cost Honduras about $10.3 billion between 2014 and 2018, the equivalent of 10% to 12.5% of the . The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Honduras. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. 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. 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. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. 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. The UNSDG has a strengthened coordination system that works at a country, regional and global level. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500 Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497 Website: http://hn.usembassy.gov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, U.S. Consular Agency San Pedro Sula Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600 Tel: +504-2558-1580 Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. Honduras is far more deadly than even the most violent U.S. cities. The government allocated insufficient funds for implementation of the plan and relevant agencies relied on additional support from foreign donors to implement its activities. 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. Criminals and pickpockets target visitors as they enter and depart airports and hotels, so visitors should consider carrying their passports and valuables in a concealed pouch. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Is Honduras Safe to Travel Alone Traveling solo is becoming more popular and within Latin America, more people including myself have set out to travel alone. . CICESCT provided 76,970 lempiras ($3,080) to an NGO operating a shelter that accommodated women, girls, and boys up to age 12 and dedicated 318,040 lempiras ($12,720) to victims immediate needs including food, hygiene supplies, and lodging. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. 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. Enforce laws punishing brokers for illegal practices that facilitate trafficking, such as fraudulent offers of employment or illegal fees for migration or job placement. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Perpetrators of sexual assaults are often armed. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas. 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. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. 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. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. 0. 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. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your image export is now complete. 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. Explore and easily find UNSDG publications. El Salvador is not dangerous for travelers as violence has declined to its lowest level in over 30 years. A woman is likely to be killed every 36 hours in this country. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. The Basilica of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa, also known as Suyapa Church or Cathedral, is an important religious site and popular tourist destination. Useful Information. 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. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. The Honduran government conducts occasional joint police/military patrols in major cities in an effort to reduce crime. Assaults in these areas may be based on tips from sources at airport arrival areas, so visitors are strongly urged to exercise caution in discussing travel plans in public. Learn about employment opportunities across the UNSDG. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. The government conducted law enforcement operations targeting irregular migration and increased border enforcement, leading to 160 arrests for smuggling crimes that increased migrants vulnerability to trafficking. However, it is situated in a high crime area and has been the site of numerous armed robberies and thefts. The new amendments to the penal code lowered the penalties for trafficking crimes, resulting in penalties that were not commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. 2.2. Traffickers exploit victims within their own homes or communities, including sometimes their own family members or friends. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. 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. Crime in Roatan, Honduras. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. 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. Counterfeit medicines are available in pulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in Farmacias del Ahorro. Honduras Country Report 2022. . Compare Roatan with: . As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Honduras, and traffickers exploit victims from Honduras abroad. This amount was an increase from 5.53 million lempiras ($221,400) provided in 2019, though officials reported they lacked adequate financial and human resources to provide comprehensive victim care, support victims throughout the country, and collect and analyze victim data. It is urgent to pass the law on safe houses where women who manage to get away from violent situations are taken care of. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. Children living on the streets are at risk for sex and labor trafficking. 4-Minute Listen Playlist Download Transcript NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with veteran journalist Carlos Dada, founder of El Faro newspaper, about his latest reporting from Honduras. The CICESCT convened a network of 32 government agencies and NGOs and coordinated the governments anti-trafficking efforts, including implementation of the 2016-2020 national anti-trafficking action plan. CICESCT reported using online training platforms to educate stakeholders on the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on trafficking trends and how to adapt. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. Medical care is limited. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets. Through this initiative I can be a spokesperson for women who experience this type of violence and I can use my platforms to inform and raise awareness about the issue in a male-dominatedsociety where we normalize this type of situation, said Massay Crisantho, who is and activist and advocate for the human rights and the culture of the Garifunaethnic community. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before you depart, and have small bills available for payment, as taxi drivers often do not make change. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. 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. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. 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. During the presentation of these findings, Alice Shackelford called for "changing the narrative and expressing our intolerance towards this type of violence". Widespread poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug trafficking activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate. 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. The government also enacted a new penal code provision that brought the definition of trafficking in line with the definition under international law. The governments disaggregated victim data included some victims of related crimes such as child pornography; all identified victims were Honduran citizens and included 43 children and 24 adults, 56 females and 10 males, and one LGBTQI+ individual. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. "Indeed, women are the affected ones, but as men, we have a greater opportunity to influence other men and make them reflect on how we impact our sisters, friends and colleagues with our behaviour. Honduras - Safety & Security ; Honduras - Country Commercial Guide Honduras Country Commercial Guide. In past years, several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba shortly after arriving in the country. Overall corruption helped facilitate trafficking crimes. During July 2019 alone, the cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa recorded 11 attacks leaving 15 people dead, mostly taxi drivers and bus drivers. Choose taxis carefully, and note the drivers name and license number. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. Increase efforts to identify victims, including among particularly vulnerable populations such as adult migrants, and provide assistance to all victims, including forced labor victims. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. 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. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. However, the government lacked formal procedures for identifying victims among children apprehended for gang-related criminal activity. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Avoid driving at night. 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. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. 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. Yes, despite all the historical crime and violence, which don't affect tourists, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2023. 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. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. 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 . DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. Passing on blind corners is common. Government agencies, including CICESCT, its local committees, the Public Ministry, the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Secretariat of Education, provided anti-trafficking trainings to police, lawyers, judges, other government officials, tourism professionals, civil society organizations, teachers, and members of the public throughout the country; due to the pandemic, the government conducted the majority of trainings virtually, which allowed them to reach more stakeholders and decrease costs. Two U.S. citizens reported incidents of rape or sexual assault between January and September 2013. Crime in Honduras in 2012, according to the U.N., Honduras experienced. Although Honduras has reduced its homicide rate by half since 2011, it remains one of the world's highest, with 44.8 murders per 100,000 population in 2019. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Article 219 of the Honduran penal code, which came into effect in June 2020, criminalized sex and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of five to eight years imprisonment. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well- known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. 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. 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. Review OSACs reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Departments webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. Story written by Maria ElenaClix, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Honduras. ", expressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, on Twitter. 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. My appreciation and congratulations to Ana Cruz and the fantastic work of safe houses! The government initially allocated 8.93 million lempiras ($357,150) to CICESCT but later decreased its actual disbursement to 6.18 million lempiras ($247,020) due to pandemic-related funds redistribution and budget cuts. 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). However, with respect to sex trafficking, these penalties were not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. 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). Honduras has a high homicide rate, with a murder rate of 36 people per 100,000 in 2020. Victims who tested positive for COVID-19 faced delays or limitations in receiving services from shelters. 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. UNODC collects data on crime and the operation of criminal justice systems in order to make policy-relevant information and analysis available in a timely manner to the international community. In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. According to the International Rescue Committee, femicides are a major concern in Honduras. According to the Peruvian National Police ( PNP ), crime increased 15% in 2021. Honduran law prohibited the prosecution of victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit. The government offered services to both forced labor and sex trafficking victims but identified a disproportionately low number of forced labor victims compared to the estimated prevalence of forced labor in the country. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Natalia Lozano is a Honduran lawyer, working in the fields of human, women's, LGBT, and youth rights as the Honduran National Coordinator of Right Here Right Now. Kidnappings have occurred in recent years, with large ransoms paid and infrequent capture of the kidnappers. Increase investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of suspected traffickers, including complicit officials and forced labor crimes. 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. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your data export is now complete. These efforts included identifying more victims of labor trafficking, including children forced to commit unlawful acts, and increasing funding for the Inter-institutional Commission to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (CICESCT). Migrants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, and South America who transit Honduras en route to the United States are vulnerable to being exploited in trafficking. I was housebound. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. Exercise particular caution walking on isolated beaches, especially at night. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Coxen Hole on the island of Roatan should be avoided after dark. Civil society continues to advocate for this law to be passed and the United Nations has joined in these efforts. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves.