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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. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Support and resources from a four-year Organization of American States (OAS) mission to strengthen the fight against corruption and impunity, concluded in January 2020, have not produced lasting reforms. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. In 2013, Honduras reformed the penal code to recognize femicide as a crime. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. LGBT people are frequently targets of discrimination, extortion, and violence from gangs, the national civil police and military police, and members of the public. Nevertheless, social discrimination against racial and ethnic groups persisted, as did physical violence. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. HONDURAS / 19 APR 2022 BY SETH ROBBINS EN. 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. The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. Infiltrators: corruption in El Salvador has made safety strides and is not as dangerous as it used be! The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product Import and Export (APIE) 4700 River Road, Unit 40. According to Human Rights Watch, Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of these groups. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. 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. The Linn County Sheriff's Office . Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. The groups most likely to be internally displaced are children subjected to forced gang recruitment, professionals and business owners who face extortion, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT people and members of ethnic minorities who face violence and discrimination, the IACHR has reported. Assassinations and violence continue under military supervision. 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. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common and problematic, with many other pretrial detainees held in the general population with convicted prisoners. 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 quasi-governmental National Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment (CONAPREV) received 18 complaints of the use of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment through August. 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 law provides a maximum sentence of three years in prison for disobeying a restraining order connected with the crime of violence against a woman. Share this via Email Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. Gracias a Diosis a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. 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. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. These workers are not covered by the contributory social security system and are not protected by the labor code. 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. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining, and the government failed to enforce applicable laws effectively. The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Rural communities subject to increased food insecurity due to prolonged drought and extreme weather events are also vulnerable to displacement. (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). The law also sanctions abortion providers. There were different methodologies to measure the size of the informal economy, and a March 2020 UNDP report estimated that 82 percent of workers were part of the informal economy. The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. The accused were in pretrial detention awaiting the next phase of the judicial process. However, in June and October 2021 it abstained from OAS resolutions condemning arrests of Nicaraguan presidential opposition candidates and critics and demanding their release. ELITES AND CRIME / 1 NOV 2022 Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Share this via Printer. Share this via Reddit The STSS completed 29 child labor inspections as of September and identified 13 minors working without permission. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice-sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. 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. These crimes may have been the result of tips from sources surveilling the airport arrival area. Regulations for implementing the law remained under development as of November. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 2019. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Honduras has failed to uphold the Garifunas right to collective tenure over their lands and to promptly and adequately investigate threats and acts of harassment against community leaders, the IACHR stated in 2020. 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. In October, Honduras was elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 term. There are no legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities brought before the Honduran judicial system, and no reports of judicial developments that would have a negative impact on U.S. counterterrorism efforts. 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? The government launched a new Ministry of Transparency in November 2020 to address some of these concerns. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. . Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. The Human Rights Secretariat (SEDH) informed that 314 women were murdered in Honduras in 2021. Although its specialists occasionally cannot provide the U.S. standard of care, the hospital and diagnostic departments do have the capability to provide most medical procedures. The National Interinstitutional Security Force coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the national police, military police of public order, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry during interagency operations. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. A 22-year-old woman was listed as the victim when it was reported her Tao Blade . Employers rarely paid the minimum wage in the agricultural sector and paid it inconsistently in other sectors. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Violence was often rooted in a broader context of conflict over land and natural resources, extensive corruption, lack of transparency and community consultation, other criminal activity, and limited state ability to protect the rights of vulnerable communities. In cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP), the government operated consolidated reporting centers in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula where women could report crimes, seek medical and psychological attention, and receive other services. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. As of September inspectors conducted 8,846 total inspections, compared with 4,102 total inspections for the same period in 2020. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. Although Honduras has reduced its homicide rate by half since 2011, it remains one of the worlds highest, with 44.8 murders per 100,000 population in 2019. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape of women or men, including spousal rape. 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. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. This figure is projected to rise by 0.5 million by June 2023. Honduras lacks a comprehensive legislative framework that includes women with disabilities and policies to combat domestic violence. 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 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). CONAPREV reported 13 violent deaths in prisons as of September. A 59-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was . Roads have poor lighting and markings. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. 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. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. On July 25, media reported individuals shot and killed Liberal Party congressional candidate and former congresswoman Carolina Echeverria Haylock in Tegucigalpa. Human Rights Watch documented mass expulsion of migrants and asylum seekers, including Hondurans, from Mexico to a remote jungle in Guatemala. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. 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. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. As of August 5, 174 femicides have been committed in Honduras in 2021 according to the Women's Rights Center, a Honduran nongovernmental organization. The prosecution may request an additional six-month extension, but many detainees remained in pretrial detention much longer, including for more time than the maximum period of incarceration for their alleged crime. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. The Cattrachas Lesbian Network reported 17 violent deaths of LGBTQI+ persons as of August. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. 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. 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. 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. The secretariat reported assisting 127 IDPs as of August. U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State The court found that Hernndez suffered harassment by police the night before she was killed, the police and military had effective control of the streets on the night she died, and Honduras conducted no effective investigation into her killing. gangs are the most active and powerful. The law prohibits all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. . The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. 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). Share this via LinkedIn In June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held that Honduras violated the rights to life and personal integrity of Vicky Hernndez, a transgender woman killed during the 2009 coup. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. This definition included workers who did not contribute to any form of social security protection, and thus it may have undercounted underemployed workers who rely on jobs in both the formal and informal sectors. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. In some industries, including agriculture, domestic service, and security, employers did not respect maternity rights or pay minimum wage, overtime, or vacation. 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 was no information available on any major industrial accidents. Journalists; environmental activists; human rights defenders; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. 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. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. 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. There are claims of widespread corruption in land sales, deed filing, and dispute resolution, including claims against attorneys, real estate companies, judges, and local officials. Transgender persons are prohibited from changing their legal gender status. Major cities (e.g. The law allows only local unions to call strikes, prohibits labor federations and confederations from calling strikes, and requires that a two-thirds majority of both union and nonunion employees at an enterprise approve a strike. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Gangs exercise territorial control over some neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. You can add more than one country or area. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services to women, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. Although its specialists occasionally cannot provide the U.S. standard of care, the hospital and diagnostic departments do have the capability to provide most medical procedures. 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. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. Media linked her killing to organized criminal groups and drug trafficking organizations. The 18th Street and MS-13 (. ) By law women have equal access to educational opportunities.