Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. 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. Avoid driving at night. Information provided is subject to change without notice. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lima as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Contact OSACs Latin America team with any questions or to join. All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses. 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. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. 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. 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. CICESCT sustained its efforts to provide immediate protection to victims and coordinate additional services among other stakeholders without interruption throughout the pandemic. 4-Minute Listen Playlist Download Transcript NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with veteran journalist Carlos Dada, founder of El Faro newspaper, about his latest reporting from Honduras. 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. Honduras is far more deadly than even the most violent U.S. cities. UN teams are now better enabled to support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The rainy season usually runs May-November. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through the Spotlight Initiative and in partnership with civil society organizations, launched the "The Other Pandemic" campaign in order to activate a social movement to address and prevent gender-based violence. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Honduras - Safety & Security ; Honduras - Country Commercial Guide Honduras Country Commercial Guide. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. Useful Information. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. Honduran law prohibited the prosecution of victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. 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). 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. Last update: October 2022. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. 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 police generally treat detained foreigners well. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. 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. 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. UNODC works on the development of standards for national crime and criminal justice information systems and for the conduct of victimization surveys. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. 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. However, Honduran law enforcement authorities ability to prevent, respond to, and investigate criminal incidents and prosecute criminals is limited. As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Honduras, and traffickers exploit victims from Honduras abroad. 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. However, the government lacked formal procedures for identifying victims among children apprehended for gang-related criminal activity. international and local public pressure, MACCIHs mandate ended in January 2020 without agreement for its extension between the OAS and the Honduran government. The government offered services to both forced labor and sex trafficking victims but identified a disproportionately low number of forced labor victims compared to the estimated prevalence of forced labor in the country. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. 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. honduras crime and safety report 2022. how to wear a sheath dress to a wedding; apple music not working on android; honduras crime and safety report 2022. figure 8 racing near me 2022; what does the god particle look like; There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. First responders referred potential trafficking victims to CICESCTs immediate response team, composed of two psychologists and a social worker, for immediate support. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Honduras. It is urgent to pass the law on safe houses where women who manage to get away from violent situations are taken care of. Overall corruption helped facilitate trafficking crimes. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. 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 immediate response team provided 67 victims of trafficking and related crimes with assistance, including legal advice, immediate protection, and psychological services. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Honduras, visit Honduras.UN.org. The Government of Honduras does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. 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. 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. 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. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. 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. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. Shall I live on, or shall I die? Credit card skimming is common. ", expressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, on Twitter. Preliminary Observations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on its Visit to Honduras - May 15 TO 18, 2010 Honduras: Human Rights and the Coup D' ETAT - Dec. 2009 Return to the Top of the Page Justice System Foreign Government Reports Canada Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The government and NGOs identified 42 trafficking victims in 2020, including 31 exploited in sex trafficking and 11 in forced labor; two of the labor trafficking victims were children forced to commit unlawful acts. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. A woman is likely to be killed every 36 hours in this country. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. 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. Read more about the coordinated response to COVID-19. Roads have poor lighting and markings. In 2020,278 women were murdered in the countryand, as of November 2021, more than 240 women have lost their lives violently. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford meets with survivors at a local safe house. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. AUDIE CORNISH,. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. . The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. 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. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Since 1995, 115 U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras; of these, just 32 cases have been resolved. In January 2012, the Peace Corps suspended its program in Honduras in order to review the safety and security of its volunteers. El Salvador used to have a high crime rate, but that is not the case anymore. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. The CICESCT convened a network of 32 government agencies and NGOs and coordinated the governments anti-trafficking efforts, including implementation of the 2016-2020 national anti-trafficking action plan. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. 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. 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.