Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. 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. CICESCT and the anti-trafficking prosecution unit each operated trafficking-specific hotlines that functioned throughout the pandemic. Most crime victims are members of rival gangs, small business owners who resist gang extortion, passengers on public transportation, or those involved in land tenure disputes. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. Among the 45 Cuban medical professionals the government contracted to assist during the pandemic, some may have been forced to work by the Cuban government. 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. Information provided is subject to change without notice. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. what did the menendez brothers parents do to them osac crime and safety report honduras Posted on July 8, 2021by Published by at June 7, 2022. 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. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. osac crime and safety report honduras - bagtical.com The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. 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. 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. Union leaders and labor activists in both the public and private sector face harassment, dismissal, and violence for their activities. Honduras - United States Department of Justice Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras urban areas. For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. The law on safe houses needs to be passed! 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. The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. How To Stay Safe In Honduras - www.centralamerica.com A woman is likely to be killed every 36 hours in this country. Crime in Roatan, Honduras. Labor inspectors did not identify any suspected trafficking cases in 2020. There are few U.S.- educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your image export is now complete. in Choluteca: the cities of Apacilagua, Orocuina and San Isidro. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. 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. U.S. citizens in Honduras on U.S. government orders are only allowed to visit the Basilica of Suyapa with an organized tour group that provides armed security for the group. 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? international and local public pressure, MACCIHs mandate ended in January 2020 without agreement for its extension between the OAS and the Honduran government. Widespread poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug trafficking activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate. 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, 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. Institutionalize training for anti-trafficking police and prosecutorial units, judges, and CICESCTs immediate response team. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. Choose taxis carefully, and note the drivers name and license number. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your data export is now complete. Head of Police Gustavo Snchez 7 Feb said state of emergency, first imposed in Dec 2022 to tackle extortion, had reduced average number of homicides per day from nine in 2022 to seven so far in 2023. . International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. 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. 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. There is no evidence suggesting criminals specifically target U.S. citizens, but foreigners have been targeted for crime due to their perceived wealth. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. Armed men have forced vehicles transporting tourists off the road and robbed the victims, occasionally assaulting the driver or passengers. Municipalities With Highest Number of Deaths Attributed to Traffic Accidents 200 150 100 179 177 50 61 52 39 0 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 24 23 23 22 21 19 16, January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Victims who tested positive for COVID-19 faced delays or limitations in receiving services from shelters. 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). 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. "I am a survivor of domestic violence and I am lucky to be alive," said Rosa Maria Perez at the launch of the campaign. Will Honduras Win The Fight Against Corruption? - Forbes Safety in El Salvador. The law on safe houses, which has been stalled in the National Congress since 2018, aims to recognize and fund safe houses to provide care for survivors of multiple forms of violence, ensuring. Is Roatn Safe - Is it Safe for Tourists to Travel on the Island of Roatn? The government modernized its national identification card system and began distributing new national identification cards in February 2021. 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. 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. 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. In 2013, Honduras had the highest rate of violent deaths of women in the world. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. Kidnappings have occurred in recent years, with large ransoms paid and infrequent capture of the kidnappers. 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 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. 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. Honduras - United States Department of State Alerts and Messages - U.S. Embassy in Honduras Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Honduras. 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. Regional advisory - Avoid non-essential travel. 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. 2022 estimated. 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. 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. Exercise particular caution walking on isolated beaches, especially at night. If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Useful Information. Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region, with6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. 2.2. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. ERO Houston removes twice-deported foreign fugitive wanted in Honduras 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. 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. Authorities reported restrictions implemented to mitigate the pandemic impeded investigations in commercial venues where trafficking has been known to occur and slowed investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes. Should a U.S. citizen be kidnapped, local authorities and the U.S. Embassy should be contacted immediately. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. According to the International Rescue Committee, femicides are a major concern in Honduras. 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. Among the findings is that nine out of 10 news stories promote the dissemination of morbid details, include inadequate justifications and stereotypical reporting, which adds on to the misrepresentation of reality, which affects how this type of news is understood and interpreted by the public. Three LGBTQ+ People Were Killed in Honduras on Same Day Other Honduran government agencies also provided funds from their budgets for victim assistance. Anyone with information is strongly encouraged to report the matter. Honduran police generally do not speak English. The pandemic, as well as Hurricanes Eta and Iota, negatively affected economic opportunity and furthered inequality, resulting in an increased number of individuals vulnerable to trafficking. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. Honduras in Crisis: Organized Crime Devastates Latin American Community Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. The government maintained prosecution efforts. World Report 2022: Honduras | Human Rights Watch In 2012, a U.S. citizen reported that his boat was boarded and his passengers were the victims of an armed robbery while sailing in Honduran waters near Puerto Cortes, three miles north of Punta Sal. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, are at risk for forced labor in the agricultural, construction, manufacturing, mining, and hospitality industries. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation like U.S. States), including Atlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and Yoro. U.S. Citizen Murdered in Roatan | Cruise Law News Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. 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. When possible, travel in groups. The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts. 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. 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. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. 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. Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford meets with survivors at a local safe house. 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. Everything you need to know about human rights in Honduras - Amnesty Annual Security Reports | University Police & Public Safety 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. Ecuador Crime. Safety and crime information on Ecuador | CountryReports Is Honduras Safe to Visit in 2023? | Travellers I was housebound. 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. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. "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. Officials report family problems, unemployment, and lack of access to healthcare exacerbate these risks. 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. Amend the penal code to ensure the penalties prescribed for trafficking crimes are commensurate with the penalties prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. Three U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras between January and September 2013. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Honduras Country Report 2022. . Authorities initiated prosecutions of nine suspects (seven for sex trafficking and two for forced labor), compared with 55 initiated in 2019 (53 for sex trafficking including procuring commercial sex acts and two for forced labor) and 35 in 2018. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. 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. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. 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. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. 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 . Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Nicaragua used to be part of the CA-4 agreement, but in late 2017 began requiring travelers to register their travel purpose and destination online seven days in advance. Honduras sees 318 cases of femicide in 2021: Report At least 19 women murdered since beginning of 2022, says Honduras Center for Women's Studies Sinan Doan | 27.01.2022 My appreciation and congratulations to Ana Cruz and the fantastic work of safe houses! 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. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. 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. During the pandemic, violence cases against women increased significantly; the number of emergency calls rose to 282 per day. 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. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. 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. In past years, several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba shortly after arriving in the country. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. The Honduran government conducts occasional joint police/military patrols in major cities in an effort to reduce crime. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. The immediate response team provided 67 victims of trafficking and related crimes with assistance, including legal advice, immediate protection, and psychological services. Honduras - Safety & Security ; Honduras - Country Commercial Guide Honduras Country Commercial Guide. The rainy season usually runs May-November. 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. Honduran regulations prohibited charging recruitment fees to workers, but the government did not report enforcement of these regulations in 2020. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. This report of the Central America Monitor aims to define a baseline for the indicators related to reducing violence and combatting organized crime in Honduras. 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. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Download Historical Data. Violent crime is a serious issue in the entire country, with crimes such as kidnappings, rape, assaults, and murders. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. The Honduran government is modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, which can lead to increased travel times because of ongoing construction.