13818096d2d51592c honduras crime and safety report 2022
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. 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. CountryReports 1997 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved. A large number of media have distorted the populations perception on violence against women by informing about it in a way that makes it seems as if these are isolated cases, when the reality is that this is an endemic issue in the Honduran society. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. In Honduras, the United Nations is committed to continue working together with a wide range ofsectors of the country in achieving a more just and equitable society, where it isnt dangerous to be a woman. Although many tourists come to this city, there is a high crime rate, which is worth remembering when planning a trip to this city. Children living on the streets are at risk for sex and labor trafficking. 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. 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. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Honduras. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Perpetrators of sexual assaults are often armed. The government maintained a specialized anti-trafficking prosecution unit, but experts observed the unit remained understaffed and lacked sufficient resources to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes. Violent crime is a serious issue in the entire country, with crimes such as kidnappings, rape, assaults, and murders. A review of crime statistics from the Honduran national police shows that violent crimes are more prevalent in the Departments of Francisco Morazn and Corts. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Honduras, and traffickers exploit victims from Honduras abroad. Earlier. NGOs reported authorities did not properly identify children forced to engage in illegal activities by criminal groups, reporting that the government may have inappropriately treated such children as criminals instead of victims. These areas are well known for narcotics smuggling and violence. 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. The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. Information published on this website may contain errors. Avoid non-essential travel to the following areas and departments due to instances of violent crime, increased gang activity and violent demonstrations: within 20 km of the border with Guatemala with the exception of Copn Ruinas. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. The Government of Honduras has a very limited law enforcement presence in some northern coastal areas, including parts of the departments of Olancho, Colon, and Gracias a Dios. "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. Criminal organizations, including gangs, exploit girls in sex trafficking, force children into street begging, and coerce and threaten children and young adults to transport weapons, sell drugs, commit extortion, or serve as lookouts; this occurred primarily in urban areas, but one NGO reported an increase in gang activity in rural areas. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets. Overall corruption helped facilitate trafficking crimes. The Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) monitored and regulated compliance with labor laws and policies that could decrease workers vulnerability to trafficking, including those regulating private employment agencies and establishing protections for vulnerable classes of workers such as domestic workers, seafarers, and temporary workers in Canada; however, the government did not provide details on enforcement. It is also recommended that drivers vary their routes and schedules so as to not create a predictable routine. Review OSACs report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Level of crime: 66.67: High: Crime increasing in the past 3 years: 78.57: . The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. Armed men have forced vehicles transporting tourists off the road and robbed the victims, occasionally assaulting the driver or passengers. Authorities convicted two government officials, one on pimping charges and one for paid sexual relations, for their involvement in sex trafficking crimes in 2017. 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. According to the International Rescue Committee, femicides are a major concern in Honduras. Major cities (e.g. 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. For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. Traffickers exploit Honduran women and children in sex trafficking within the country and in other countries such as Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. 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. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Home. 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. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. international and local public pressure, MACCIHs mandate ended in January 2020 without agreement for its extension between the OAS and the Honduran government. These penalties were sufficiently stringent. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. "Honduras: Death of Keyla Martnez demands prompt, exhaustive and impartial investigation", 9 February Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. A woman is likely to be killed every 36 hours in this country. Until his life grew increasingly violent. Sources indicate that organized criminal organizations have been . The immediate response team provided 67 victims of trafficking and related crimes with assistance, including legal advice, immediate protection, and psychological services. There is often a spike in skimming in December and June, when the working population receive Christmas and mid-year bonuses in the form of one extra months salary. UNODC works on the development of standards for national crime and criminal justice information systems and for the conduct of victimization surveys. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Honduras remained on Tier 2. As a result, there is no longer free travel between Honduras and Nicaragua. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. UN teams are now better enabled to support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. 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. 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. The government modernized its national identification card system and began distributing new national identification cards in February 2021. Shall I live on, or shall I die? 2.2. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. 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. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. 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. 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). 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. honduras crime and safety report 2022. The government investigated two police officials for suspected trafficking crimes and six police officials for smuggling crimes that may have increased migrants vulnerability to trafficking. 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. 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). "I am a survivor of domestic violence and I am lucky to be alive," said Rosa Maria Perez at the launch of the campaign. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing 911. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. 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. 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. In 2020,278 women were murdered in the countryand, as of November 2021, more than 240 women have lost their lives violently. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. My decision was to die." The government maintained prosecution efforts. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. 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. CICESCT maintained a public website and launched social media accounts to share information on human trafficking with the public. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The following reports are broken down by campus alphabetically: Abington 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (pdf) "Two years ago, I came asking for help at a time when I couldn't take it anymore, to the extent that I intended to attempt against my life, with no hope for anything. "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. Honduran regulations prohibited charging recruitment fees to workers, but the government did not report enforcement of these regulations in 2020. Story written by Maria ElenaClix, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Honduras. Crime in Roatan, Honduras. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. 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. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. 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. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. 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. 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. 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. . Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region, with6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. Officials from several ministries conducted additional trainings and awareness-raising activities with support from NGOs and international organizations. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us. 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. Officials flew Garza, a 48-year-old . 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. 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/. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. AUDIE CORNISH,. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Honduras, visit Honduras.UN.org. 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 . 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. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. Massay Crisantho is one of the 21 most influential people named ambassadors to help advocate on ending violence against women and girls by the United Nations in Honduras. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. The government provided 31 victims with witness protection services including measures to protect their identity; shelter; and economic, medical and psychosocial assistance. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. 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Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. 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. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Highlights July 27, 2022: Student Reports of Bullying: Results from the 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey July 12, 2022: Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools in 2019-20: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety June 28, 2022: 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. 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 Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Please check your download folder. Honduras is a destination for child sex tourists from Canada and the United States. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Avoid driving at night. . Total Exports. 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. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. 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 to crime. 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. Caption: Activist Massay Crisantho uses her influence and far-reaching platforms to advocate for the rights of women and girls in the country. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. 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. Authorities identified five of the victims through calls to government hotlines, and 16 were identified in Mexico or Guatemala and repatriated to Honduras. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. 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. Counterfeit medicines are available in pulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in Farmacias del Ahorro.