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Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. Violence against women, the other pandemic impacting Honduras 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. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Travelers should be aware, however, that the assistance the Embassy can provide is limited to making sure U.S. citizens are not treated differently from local detainees and providing them with a list of local attorneys. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators, but the failure of the government to collect fines facilitated continued violations. On May 31, members of the National Anti-Gang Unit shot and killed Wilson Ariel Prez Hernndez in San Pedro Sula, Corts Department. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. Persons with HIV and AIDS continued to be targets of discrimination, and they suffered disproportionately from gender-based violence. On December 2, the court found Aarn Jeriel lvarez Pavn guilty of Rodrguezs murder. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. The law criminalizes discrimination based on race and ethnicity and includes crimes committed against individuals because of race or ethnicity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Counterfeit medicines are available inpulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported inFarmacias del Ahorro. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. 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. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The law requires prisoners to work at least five hours a day, six days a week. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media, b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association, d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country, f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. In a controversial 2015 decision, the Honduran Supreme Court voided Article 239 of the constitution, which had limited presidents to one term. 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. Corruption: On June 10, Marco Bogrn, former director of INVEST-H, the government entity tasked with making COVID-19 pandemic relief contracts with private firms, was found guilty of aggravated fraud and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 1.475 billion lempiras ($58.7 million). The government sometimes applied penalties against violators, but failure to collect fines facilitated continued labor code wage and hour violations. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. Its operations to receive and process cases relied on substantial support from UNHCR. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. Violence and Harassment: On May 26, unknown assailants shot and killed Metro TV journalist Ricardo vila in Marcovia, Choluteca Department. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and Indigenous activist Berta Cceres. Avoid using. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. 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. Child Abuse: The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. Nearly 46 percent of incarcerated individuals were in pretrial detention. 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. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance, For fire and public safety emergencies, dial. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. No cases were reported during the year. 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. (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and, (small buses that pick up multiple riders). The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. As of August, it provided protection to 11 journalists and 16 social media communicators, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. Its support focused on providing training to officers of the National Institute for Migration, ensuring support to deal with the backlog of asylum claims submitted during the COVID-19 lockdown, and supporting the improvement of reception conditions for asylum seekers. 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. These crimes may have been the result of tips from sources surveilling the airport arrival area. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Although penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and fines, they were not sufficient to deter violations. ; and read the State Departments webpage on, Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Honduras Is the Most Violent Country in Central America 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? On July 4, alleged members of the 18th Street gang killed six fellow gang members at the El Pozo maximum security prison in Ilama, Santa Brbara Department. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. The government attempted to enhance its response to domestic violence by elevating the National Womens Institute to a cabinet-level secretariat in March. Enforcement of OSH standards was particularly weak in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. Latest Posts. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. Organized-crime organizations, 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, and human rights defenders. Inspectors have the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. Additionally, under the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, with significant support from UNHCR, the Secretariat of Human Rights and Secretariat of External Relations and International Cooperation continued to build capacity to provide services to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, those at risk of forced displacement, refugees, and returned migrants. 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. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. 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 18th Street and MS-13 (. ) The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. PF79-84SW: Honduras 2018 Crime & Safety Report - Archive Contraception supplies were limited, as were many other critical medicines, due to the governments dismantling of its public health procurement system in May. Latest News. NGOs and other civil society groups generally considered the commissioner independent but at times ineffective. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. 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 before striking. 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. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. However, visitors have reported being robbed while walking on isolated beaches. UN human rights experts stated the lack of access to contraception, particularly in rural areas, together with the prohibition of emergency contraception, contributed to a high rate of adolescent pregnancy. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Honduras. A lower court provisionally dismissed Rubs fraud charge on September 20, and the Public Ministry appealed the decision. The repeal went into effect on June 28. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Counterfeit medicines are available in, (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in, Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. The Secretariat of Labor may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. Credit card skimming is common. The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. 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. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. 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. Transiting migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations continued to face acute security risks in border zones. The Secretariat of Labor posted job opportunity announcements that specified a gender requirement. 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. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Voters elected Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party as president for a four-year term beginning in January. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Children, including from Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. 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. The Public Ministry also has a Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. He was allegedly killed while antigang unit officials tried to arrest him for assaulting a police officer at a soccer match on May 29. Overseas Security Advisory Council Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Violence was often rooted in a broader context of conflict over land and natural resources, corruption, lack of transparency and community consultation, other criminal activity, and limited state ability to protect the rights of vulnerable communities. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. Improvements: On March 10, the armed forces officially transferred control of the National Prison Institute to the National Police as part of a government initiative to demilitarize prisons. 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. Bureau of Diplomatic Security - United States Department of State The government generally respected these provisions. Criminalization: No laws exist to criminalize same-sex conduct. 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. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. According to the report, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. 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. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. 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 Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. The legal age of consent is 18. 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. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Review the State Departments webpage on security for. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. 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. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupn, Lenca, Maya-Chort, and Nahua. 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. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 2023. The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but authorities did not implement the law effectively, and officials continued to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. 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. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. In these sectors, employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem, and the government did not effectively enforce the law. Discrimination: Although the law accords women and men the same legal rights and status, including property rights in divorce cases, many women did not fully enjoy such rights due to barriers in access to justice and lack of information regarding legal protections. 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. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. For more in-depth information, review OSACs. 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. 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. 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. Mental-health professionals expressed concern regarding social stigma by families and communities against persons with mental disabilities and a lack of access to mental-health care throughout the country. Nevertheless, observers said social discrimination against racial and ethnic groups persisted, as did physical violence. Contact OSACs, https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Travel Advisory: Honduras - Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), Central America Natural Disaster Emergency Planning: OSAC Guidance and Resources. 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. In the security and domestic service sectors, workers were frequently forced to work more than 60 hours per week but paid only for 44 hours. In 2019 (most recent data), 94 percent of births were attended by skilled health-care personnel; however, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. The National Prison Institute reported that as of October 13, the total prison population was 19,619 in 25 prisons and one detention center. Honduras and U.S. Relations. Failure to register resulted in denial of public services, including access to health services or school enrollment. 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.