Although the law generally prohibits such actions, a legal exception allows government authorities to enter a private residence to prevent a crime or in case of another emergency. The designation requires banks to impose a higher level of scrutiny on politically exposed persons financial transactions. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. There have been repeated allegations of collusion between security forces and criminal organizations. Child recruitment by gangs has caused many children to flee and abandon school. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Overseas Security Advisory Council Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents ; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious restrictions on free expression and Defendants may not be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. The law does not criminalize domestic violence but provides penalties of up to 12 years in prison for violence against a family member, depending on the severity of the assault and aggravating circumstances. 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. 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. The law prohibits illicit association, defined as gatherings by persons bearing arms, explosive devices, or dangerous objects with the purpose of committing a crime, and prescribes prison terms of two to four years and a moderate fine for anyone who convokes or directs an illicit meeting or demonstration. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. Corruption along with a lack of investigative resources and judicial delays led to widespread impunity, including in security forces. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. 19 ianuarie 2023 Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 7, the total prison population was 20,768 in 25 prisons and one detention center. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. . The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services to women, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. Organized criminal groups, such as drug traffickers and local and transnational gangs including MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, committed killings, extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, and intimidation of police, prosecutors, journalists, women, human rights defenders, and others. 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. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid 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. honduras crime and safety report 2021. 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, Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. The STSS did not approve any authorizations through September. The Linn County Sheriff's Office . The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system. Since MACCIH left, the Attorney Generals Office has harassed and intimidated the head of its own anti-corruption criminal enterprise office, Prosecutor Luis Javier Santos, and members of his team. From January to July, 7,007 accompanied and 676 unaccompanied Honduran children requested asylum. The law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion or affiliation, marital status, race or ethnicity, national origin, language, place of residence, religion, family or economic situation, disability, or health. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. 2022 Investment Climate Statements: Honduras In this section / Executive Summary Executive Summary 1. The law allows persons charged with some felonies to avail themselves of bail and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. 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 law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, with some restrictions, and the government generally respected this right. Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. . at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. Coca Growing, Cocaine Production Reach New Heights in Honduras. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. While all formal workers are entitled to social security, there were reports that both public- and private-sector employers failed to pay into the social security system. 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. Discrimination is also common in schools, the workplace, and in the home. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly funded and staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. After 37 detainees were killed in a 2019 wave of gang violence, President Juan Orlando Hernndez declared a state of emergencyextended to December 2021and put prisons under military control. Share this via Facebook 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. In these sectors employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. The law regulates child labor, sets the minimum age for employment at age 14, and regulates the hours and types of work that minors younger than 18 may perform. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 2019. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. Authorities often did not effectively enforce the law. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. 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. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or organized criminal groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition. Victims were primarily impoverished individuals in both rural and urban areas (see section 7.c.). The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. Despite incremental progress, government capacities remained relatively nascent and limited. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. On July 6, unknown assailants shot and killed land rights defender Juan Manuel Moncada in Tocoa, Colon Department. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. 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. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Home. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. There were different methodologies to measure the size of the informal economy, and a March 2020 UNDP report estimated that 82 percent of workers were part of the informal economy. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. The government maintained the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of Persons Displaced by Violence and created the Directorate for the Protection of Persons Internally Displaced by Violence within the Secretariat of Human Rights. In security and domestic service sectors, workers were frequently forced to work more than 60 hours per week but paid only for 44 hours. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. Defendants may receive free assistance from an interpreter. The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors younger than 18, but the STSS may grant special permission for minors between the ages of 16 to 18 to work in the evening if such employment does not adversely affect their education. Roads have poor lighting and markings. CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. INCIDENTS. Review the State Departments webpage on security for. Historically, governments have responded to organized crime with iron-fist security strategies. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The court ordered Honduras to train security forces to investigate anti-LGBT violence and to adopt a process allowing people to change the gender listed on their documents to match their identity. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. Violators face penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of their professional licenses, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. As of October 17, 42,357 Hondurans were deported in 2021 to Hondurasmore than the total throughout 2020the government reported. As of June the Violence Observatory reported killings of 80 persons younger than 18. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery.