13818096d2d51592c honduras crime and safety report 202213818096d2d51592c honduras crime and safety report 2022

In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Medical care is limited. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations 169 Convention, which requires free prior notice and informed consent from indigenous communities before any development projects can begin; the congress has not approved a law regulating this process. 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. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. 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. . Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your data export is now complete. However, with respect to sex trafficking, these penalties were not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Although many tourists come to this city, there is a high crime rate, which is worth remembering when planning a trip to this city. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Since 1995, 115 U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras; of these, just 32 cases have been resolved. First responders referred potential trafficking victims to CICESCTs immediate response team, composed of two psychologists and a social worker, for immediate support. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Figures likely to be an underestimate, says Global Witness, as land defenders are killed by hitmen, crime groups and governments Published: 28 Sep 2022 More than 1,700 environmental activists . Traffickers particularly target LGBTQI+ Hondurans, migrants, IDPs, persons with disabilities, children in child labor, children whose parents have migrated, and individuals living in areas controlled by organized criminal groups. Learn about employment opportunities across the UNSDG. The government followed a regional protocol to facilitate the repatriation of victims identified abroad and funded food, transportation, and lodging for such victims through a fund administered by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. According to InSight Crime, the crime rate has decreased by 26%, which is what the Honduran government is aiming to work on if they expect more visitors per year. Institutionalize training for anti-trafficking police and prosecutorial units, judges, and CICESCTs immediate response team. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Other Honduran government agencies also provided funds from their budgets for victim assistance. In 2020,278 women were murdered in the countryand, as of November 2021, more than 240 women have lost their lives violently. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. However, the government lacked formal procedures for identifying victims among children apprehended for gang-related criminal activity. Until his life grew increasingly violent. We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets. 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. The main problems are related to corruption, robbery, and vandalism. 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. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2011 Global Study on Homicide, Honduras has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world, with 86 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Credit card skimming is common. 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. Our message is that we shouldnt leave womens and feminist institutions that fight to eradicate violence against women alone [on their mission], said Ana Cruz of Asociacin Calidad de Vida, an anti-violence organization. Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford meets with survivors at a local safe house. The UN takes all reports of possible wrongdoing seriously. 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. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. There have been frequent incidents of carjacking and highway robbery on a number of roads including the main highway (CA-5) between San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, with the greatest risk between Potrerillos and Pito Solo in the lake area. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. However, it is situated in a high crime area and has been the site of numerous armed robberies and thefts. The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. I was housebound. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. Information published on this website may contain errors. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. . 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. 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. . 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 Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. In January 2012, the Peace Corps suspended its program in Honduras in order to review the safety and security of its volunteers. My partner did not like me to go out, not even to church. 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. Although crime and violent crime occur in all parts of Honduras, the north coast and central portions of the country have historically had the countrys highest crime rates. The Government of Honduras does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. 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. 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. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. ", expressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, on Twitter. All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses. Authorities identified five of the victims through calls to government hotlines, and 16 were identified in Mexico or Guatemala and repatriated to Honduras. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Pilar Lagos, Allan Chan, and PaulVanDeCarrfrom the Development Coordination Office (DCO) provided editorial support. Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. Major cities (e.g. Traffickers exploit Honduran adults and children in forced labor in street vending, forced begging, domestic service, drug trafficking, and the informal sector in their own country, as well as forced labor in other countries, particularly Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. 0. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. 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. The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. Avoid driving at night. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. 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. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your image export is now complete. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. Labor inspectors did not identify any suspected trafficking cases in 2020. Caption: Ana Cruz of Asociacin Calidad de Vida, an anti-violence organization. There have been multiple incidents of gang members destroying city buses and taxis, and reports that gang members rob, assault, rape, kidnap, or murder passengers. 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. Last update: October 2022. 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 . When possible, travel in groups. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). . Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Kidnappings have occurred in recent years, with large ransoms paid and infrequent capture of the kidnappers. The Honduran government conducts occasional joint police/military patrols in major cities in an effort to reduce crime. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. U.S. citizens are primarily the victims of opportunistic crime. Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras urban areas. 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. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). "My respect to the brave women survivors of domestic violence! Increase government funding for victim services, including to NGOs, and anti-trafficking police and prosecutorial units. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Exercise particular caution walking on isolated beaches, especially at night. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. In past years, several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba shortly after arriving in the country. Travelers in those areas should use extra caution. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. 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. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Authorities convicted two government officials, one on pimping charges and one for paid sexual relations, for their involvement in sex trafficking crimes in 2017. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid The women who have lost their lives violently this year are women who can no longer contribute to the economy and development of Honduras", she regretted. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. CICESCT maintained a public website and launched social media accounts to share information on human trafficking with the public. 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. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Story written by Maria ElenaClix, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Honduras. Incidents of piracy off the coast of Honduras can occur. Following anticorruption protests in 2015, President Hernandez signed an agreement with the Organization of American States to form the Mission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). In 2013, Honduras had the highest rate of violent deaths of women in the world. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. 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. 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. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing 911. 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. Ocean via the Gulf of Fonseca in the Caribbean and access to the local police and property crime 1. Received a complaint about honduras crime and safety report 2021 at Pioneer Park with murder November 2017 shorter! Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. Enforce laws punishing brokers for illegal practices that facilitate trafficking, such as fraudulent offers of employment or illegal fees for migration or job placement. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Honduras is far more deadly than even the most violent U.S. cities. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. 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). Should a U.S. citizen be kidnapped, local authorities and the U.S. Embassy should be contacted immediately. 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. U.S. citizens should exercise caution while sailing or mooring in Honduran waters. Travelers should always drive with their doors locked and windows rolled up to avoid potential robberies at traffic lights and other places, such as congested downtown streets. in Choluteca: the cities of Apacilagua, Orocuina and San Isidro. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. Download Historical Data. If you use our chart images on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. The government also enacted a new penal code provision that brought the definition of trafficking in line with the definition under international law. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. The UNSDG guides, supports, tracks and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories. Since 2010, nine U.S. citizens have been reported as victims of rape or sexual assault in Honduras, signaling an increasing trend in these types of crimes. Compare Roatan with: . Gangs control some of the taxi services. El Salvador is not dangerous for travelers as violence has declined to its lowest level in over 30 years. The state of emergency, in place since Dec. 6 in 165 areas of Honduras' largest two cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, has been expanded to 235 of the country's 298 municipalities, the . Three U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras between January and September 2013. Gracias a Dios is a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. 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. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. 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. Passing on blind corners is common. Honduran law allowed foreign victims to receive temporary or permanent residency status, including authorization to work, though the government did not identify any foreign victims in 2020. 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 from several ministries conducted additional trainings and awareness-raising activities with support from NGOs and international organizations. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Honduras - Safety & Security ; Honduras - Country Commercial Guide Honduras Country Commercial Guide. Criminals expanded the use of social network platforms to recruit victims, often with false promises of employment, and continued to target vulnerable populations. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. Honduran police generally do not speak English. As of August 2020, more than 21,000. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. It is not only women who must strengthen a social movement that contributes to breaking gender stereotype paradigms and cycles of sexism that lead to gender-based violence. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Visitors can send general inquiries to the communications team. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. 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. Honduras received support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the development of an e-procurement platform and public procurement auditing. Caption: Honduras has the highest femicide rates in Latin America. UN teams are now better enabled to support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Coxen Hole on the island of Roatan should be avoided after dark. 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. As a result of this study, UN Women will be organizing trainings for media outlets on objective and respectful journalism in these types of subjects. 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.