2018 toyota rav4 pros and cons. 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. A 59-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was . The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem. 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. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. A bill was introduced in 2019 to prevent, assist, and protect people internally displaced by violence. The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. 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 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 constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The change increases the penalty from two to four years to four to six years. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as. For more in-depth information, review OSACs. Prisoners suffered from overcrowding, insufficient access to food and water, violence, and alleged abuse by prison officials. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. CONADEH reported 69 cases of alleged torture or cruel and inhuman treatment by security forces through August, while the Public Ministry received 18 such reports. According to the Honduran Commission for Human Rights (Conadeh), 75 people died in attacks against the public transport service in Honduras between January and July 2019. The government ended the curfew on October 1. Several UN special rapporteurs and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances warned, in April, of growing numbers of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have disappeared in Mexico, including 741 Hondurans from March through August 2019. 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. 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. Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. The law prohibits all the worst forms of child labor. In addition women experienced delays in accessing justice due to police who failed to process complaints in a timely manner or judicial system officials who deferred scheduling hearings. The law was not effectively enforced, and weak public institutional structures contributed to the inadequate enforcement. In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Spurred by anger with the government over accusations of public corruption, allegations of involvement in narcotics trafficking, and efforts to pass controversial education reform, protests and demonstrations were near-daily occurrences at times during 2019. Review OSACs report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. International organizations, the United States, and the United Kingdom have expressed their support for Santos work. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. In July, the US released the Engel List, listing individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala allegedly associated with corruption and undemocratic acts. Historically, governments have responded to organized crime with iron-fist security strategies. 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. 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), includingAtlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, andYoro. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is sufficient to deter violations and commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor code violations. Vote View Results . Periodic medical evaluations had not found Lobo healthy enough to proceed. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. 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. Survivors of domestic violence are entitled to certain protective measures, such as removing the abuser from the home and prohibiting the abuser from visiting the victims work or other frequently visited places. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. The government investigated violence and threats of violence against union leaders. In October 2019, a thief stole the side view mirrors from a U.S. employees personally owned vehicle while it was parked on a side street near the Embassy. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. The STSS may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Avoid traveling at night and always drive with doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. 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. Marco Bogran, former director of INVEST-H, the Honduran government entity tasked with providing coronavirus pandemic relief contracts to private firms, remained in pretrial detention awaiting his next court appearance, scheduled for January 31, 2022. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Honduras is listed as a high-risk country in the INFORM risk index and according to Insight-Crime, it is among the most violent . Both the STSS and the courts may order a company to reinstate workers, but the STSS lacked the personnel and transportation resources to verify compliance. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. Rural communities subject to increased food insecurity due to prolonged drought and extreme weather events are also vulnerable to displacement. As a result, there is no longer free travel between Honduras and Nicaragua. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. 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 crime and safety report 2022. 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, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. As of September the STSS had an insufficient number of inspectors to enforce the law effectively. In September, the OAS and Honduras signed an agreement to allow an OAS electoral observation mission to the November elections to elect president, legislators, and local authorities. The law provides citizens the right to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on nearly universal and equal suffrage. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. Wage and Hour Laws: There are 45 categories of monthly minimum wage, based on the industry and the size of a companys workforce; the minimum average was above the poverty line. Violence against LGBT individuals displaces many internally and forces others to leave the country to seek asylum. 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. On October 7, the National Congress passed changes to the money-laundering law to designate civil society organizations as politically exposed persons due to organizations use of foreign aid. Some NGOs reported irregularities, including late delivery of technology needed to transmit results, late opening of the polls, poll workers with varying degrees of preparation and knowledge of the electoral law and processes, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated abuses by the military. Employers rarely paid the minimum wage in the agricultural sector and paid it inconsistently in other sectors. If the STSS grants permission, children between 14 and 16 may work a maximum of four hours a day, and those between 16 and 18 may work up to six hours a day. 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. Share this via Email Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. 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. 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. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but impunity was widespread. La Ceiba, Trujillo) and major hotels; other tourist installations have increased private and police security. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally asBarrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. 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. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. The lack of space for social distancing combined with the lack of adequate sanitation made prison conditions even more life threatening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Officers filed a report for theft and criminal damage to property at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Denison Avenue in Manhattan. Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State,
Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (Colectivo and Rolatero) in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. Powerful special interests, including organized criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. Because labor inspectors continued to be concentrated in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, full labor inspections and follow-up visits to confirm compliance were far less frequent in other parts of the country. As of September the Public Ministry had received nine reports of racial or ethnic discrimination. From January to July, 7,007 accompanied and 676 unaccompanied Honduran children requested asylum. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. The Human Rights Secretariat (SEDH) informed that 314 women were murdered in Honduras in 2021. 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. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. 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). See the Department of States Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html. The law also imposes prison sentences of up to two years, eight months for child labor violations that endanger the life or morality of a child age 16 or 17 and up to three years, four months for children younger than 16. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. Organized criminal groups, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes and committed acts of homicide, torture, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, intimidation, and other threats and violence directed against human rights defenders, judicial authorities, lawyers, business community members, journalists, bloggers, women, and other vulnerable populations. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. In 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota forced more than 55,000 to move into temporary shelters, according to the Red Cross. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. The government used the pretrial detention center to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials. On July 25, media reported individuals shot and killed Liberal Party congressional candidate and former congresswoman Carolina Echeverria Haylock in Tegucigalpa. 2022 Investment Climate Statements: Honduras In this section / Executive Summary Executive Summary 1. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. The government provided victims of sexual violence access to other health-care services. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. They had limited representation in the national government and consequently little direct input into decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions, and the allocation of natural resources. The law prohibits police from unionizing (see section 7.a.). Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Overseas Security Advisory Council
According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. Physical Conditions: Prisoners suffered from severe overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of adequate sanitation and medical care, and, in some prisons, lack of adequate ventilation and lighting. The government generally respected these provisions. The national curfew instituted in response to COVID-19, however, limited the freedom of internal movement and affected the freedom to leave the country, including for individuals at risk of or subject to persecution or torture. Natural Disasters Risk: Medium. Deportation, Circular Migration and Organized Crime Honduras Case Study; Download the Publication; Honduras: Information Gathering Mission Report; Violence in Honduras: an Analysis of the Failure in Public Security and the State'S Response to Criminality; Opendocpdf.Pdf; Honduras Elites and Organized Crime; Honduras 2019 Crime & Safety Report Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Most child labor occurred in rural areas. The law requires overtime pay, bans excessive compulsory overtime, limits overtime to four hours a day for a maximum workday of 12 hours, and prohibits the practice of requiring workers to complete work quotas before leaving their place of employment. Credible allegations of corruption in the STSS continued. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. Bogran was arrested in October 2020 on two corruption charges for embezzling an estimated 1.14 billion lempiras ($47 million) in public funds and funneling a contract for mobile hospitals to his uncle, Napoleon Corrales. On April 23, the Public Ministry arrested and charged Josue Exequiel Martinez Martinez, Siriaco Mejia Santos, Francisco Lopez Lazo, and Mario Anibal Lopez Velasquez for the December 2020 murder of Felix Vasquez. Honduras voted in favor of an OAS resolution rejecting Venezuelas December 2020 elections, which have been widely considered fraudulent. Many prisoners had access to weapons and other contraband, inmates attacked other inmates with impunity, and inmates and their associates outside prison threatened prison officials and their families. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. The law also requires that public-sector workers involved in the refining, transportation, and distribution of petroleum products submit their grievances to the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) before striking. Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. Share this via Telegram There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common and problematic, with many other pretrial detainees held in the general population with convicted prisoners. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment; penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. 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. The most recent national and local elections were held in November. Animals and people wander onto the roads. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education. Publishing or
S.S.S. 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. The government has an Office for Persons with Disabilities located within the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, but its ability to provide services to persons with disabilities was limited. In a 2020 survey by UNHCR and UNICEF, half of Hondurans interviewed in Mexico named violence as the main reason for their leaving. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. Coca Growing, Cocaine Production Reach New Heights in Honduras. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. The document was compiled from various
Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. The STSS completed 29 child labor inspections as of September and identified 13 minors working without permission. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices. Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500, Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula, Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600, Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. More than half of the men and two-thirds of the women were in pretrial detention, according to official statistics. The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. Although the law prohibits such practices, government officials received complaints and investigated alleged abuses by members of the security forces on the streets and in detention centers. 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? Of those, 37,114 were deported from Mexico and 4,689 from the US. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. It stipulates that a prosecutor has 24 additional hours to decide if there is probable cause for indictment, whereupon a judge has 24 more hours to decide whether to issue a temporary detention order. CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. Review the State Departments webpage on security for, Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. The Secretariat of Human Rights provided training to security forces to reinforce respect for human rights. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. The directorate issued 1,379 recommendations to the Ministry of Security for disciplinary actions as of September following internal investigations of national police members. Her most recent evaluation was in August, and the court declared her fit to stand trial in September. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. The law allows persons charged with some felonies to avail themselves of bail and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. Why Money Launderers in Honduras May Be Getting Away With It ELITES AND CRIME / 1 NOV 2022 Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. If a victims physical injuries do not reach the severity required to categorize the violence as a criminal act, the legal penalty for a first offense is a sentence of one to three months of community service. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa.