These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. 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. Crime Threats The accused has the right to an initial hearing before a judge, to ask for bail, consult with legal counsel in a timely manner, have a lawyer provided by the state if necessary, and request an appeal. The government used the pretrial detention center to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials. Persons with HIV and AIDS continued to be targets of discrimination, and they suffered disproportionately from gender-based violence. 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. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. As of September the Public Ministry had received nine reports of racial or ethnic discrimination. The law prohibits workers from legally striking until after they have attempted and failed to come to agreement with their employer, and it requires workers and employers to participate in a mediation and conciliation process. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Some larger cities have police forces that operate independently of the national police and report to municipal authorities. Unions also raised concerns regarding the use of temporary contracts and part-time employment, suggesting that employers used these mechanisms to prevent unionization and avoid providing full benefits. 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. osac crime and safety report el salvador 2021 12th June 2022 - 6:57 am Fund Raising 9th January 2018 - 12:17 pm Copyright - 2017 - Clearway Drainage - rust The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. WebOver 10 years we helping companies reach their financial and branding goals. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. Institutions such as the National Womens Institute attempted to enhance the governments response to domestic violence by opening three additional womens centers in the country. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. 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. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry and new national identification cards, and new technology that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. The law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. WebReceived a complaint about honduras crime and safety report 2021 at Pioneer Park with murder November 2017 shorter! 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. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Backsliding occurred in cases brought during the four-year mandate of the OAS Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras; several of its cases were dismissed or postponed as courts heard appeals based on the new code. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. 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. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. 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. Medical care is limited. 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. The government allocated a budget of nearly 21 million lempiras ($865,000) for the continued operation of a protection mechanism for journalists, human rights defenders, and judicial-sector operators. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. WebCrime in Honduras in 2012, according to the U.N., Honduras experienced. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. 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. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. The law grants prisoners the right to prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and, if indigent, to government-provided counsel, although the public defender mechanism was weak, and authorities did not always abide by these requirements. WebSample 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. The rainy season usually runs May-November. Ethnic minority rights leaders, international NGOs, and farmworker organizations claimed the government failed to redress actions taken by security forces, government agencies, private individuals, and businesses to dislodge farmers and indigenous persons from lands over which they claimed ownership based on land reform law or ancestral land titles. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. 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. Under the new inspection law, the STSS has the authority temporarily to shut down workplaces where there is an imminent danger of fatalities; however, there were not enough trained inspectors to deter violations sufficiently. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). 25 Feb/23. 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. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government, Section 5. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. WebSample Page; ; WebThe 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. WebWe provide safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported three prisoner deaths due to COVID-19 through September. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Estimates of the number of children younger than 18 in the countrys workforce ranged from 370,000 to 510,000. 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 armed forces, which report to the Secretariat of Defense, are responsible for external security but also exercise some domestic security responsibilities in support of the national police and other civilian authorities. The law prohibits the use of children younger than 18 for exhibitions or performances of a sexual nature or in the production of pornography. gangs are the most active and powerful. Corruption: The new trial of former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo on charges of fraud and misappropriation of public funds, originally set to commence in March, was twice delayed for medical reasons. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. 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, Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). Mifflintown, PA 17059. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Please send any general inquiries or questions to comments@nist.gov. The U.S. Department of States Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) keeps Diplomatic Security Service representatives connected with private-sector Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth in the country, from the citizenship of their parents, or by naturalization. Authorities generally respected these rights. 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. The most recent national and local elections were held in November. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. The number of inspections increased significantly as the STSS resumed normal inspections, suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters elected Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party as president for a four-year term scheduled to begin in January 2022. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Honduras received support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the development of an e-procurement platform and public procurement auditing. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. 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. Police seized more than $400,000 in cash during the raid that led to his arrest and that of five other alleged associates. The law prohibits all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). 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. There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. 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. The Military Police of Public Order report to military authorities but conduct operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. 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. For more in-depth information, review OSACs Slovakia country Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. On October 7, the National Congress increased penalties for forced labor under the trafficking-in-persons article of the penal code from five to eight years imprisonment to 10 to 15 years, bringing the penalties in line with the penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. 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. Under the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, with significant support from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the government continued to build capacity to provide services to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, those at risk of forced displacement, refugees, and returned migrants. 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. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. In cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP), the government operated consolidated reporting centers in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula where women could report crimes, seek medical and psychological attention, and receive other services. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. Texas Department of Public Safety, Annual Report on Texas Border Crime and Other Criminal Activity, May 30, 2021. The document was compiled from various 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. The government investigated violence and threats of violence against union leaders. 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. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. On March 3, unknown assailants killed Martin Pandy, president of the Garifuna community of Corozal, and another community member. The law permits workers in public health care, social security, staple food production, and public utilities (municipal sanitation, water, electricity, and telecommunications) to strike if they continue to provide basic services. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required STSS-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. 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. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated abuses by the military. 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. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. World Bank statistics from 2020 put net enrollment for primary school above 90 percent, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. 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. 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? Gangs control some of the taxi services. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. osac crime and safety report honduras Posted on June 10, 2022 June 10, 2022 by Who Are The Booth Brothers Married To , Hallelujah Word Painting , Aceite En El Ombligo Para Adelgazar , Twinkl Crime And A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. 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. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. The law grants workers the right to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and strike. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System, The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a. Menu. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. 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