Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. 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 lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. The immediate response team provided 67 victims of trafficking and related crimes with assistance, including legal advice, immediate protection, and psychological services. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. The 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. Experts observed that judges lack of specialized knowledge or experience in handling trafficking cases impeded successful prosecution and conviction of cases. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford meets with survivors at a local safe house. This amount was an increase from 5.53 million lempiras ($221,400) provided in 2019, though officials reported they lacked adequate financial and human resources to provide comprehensive victim care, support victims throughout the country, and collect and analyze victim data. The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The government maintained strong protection efforts, with CICESCTs immediate response team providing robust assistance to victims throughout the year. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well- known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. There are few U.S.- educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. Although Honduras has reduced its homicide rate by half since 2011, it remains one of the world's highest, with 44.8 murders per 100,000 population in 2019. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas. In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident. This is the second consecutive year that the murder rate falls below 40 per 100,000 population since 2014, which. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. 2022 estimated. Limited inspections could facilitate movements of terrorists. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. CICESCT and the anti-trafficking prosecution unit each operated trafficking-specific hotlines that functioned throughout the pandemic. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. Develop and implement standardized procedures for victim identification and referral, including screening for indicators of forced criminal activity among children involved in gang-related crimes. During the pandemic, violence cases against women increased significantly; the number of emergency calls rose to 282 per day. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. Authorities reported restrictions implemented to mitigate the pandemic impeded investigations in commercial venues where trafficking has been known to occur and slowed investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes. Visitors can send general inquiries to the communications team. The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. . "The issue of gender-based violence is a central human rights issue. 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. 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), including Atlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and Yoro. 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. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. To find out more about the results of our work in this area and in others, read the UNSDG Chair's report on the Office for Development Coordination. "I think it is important that young people, and particularly men, raise awareness about this type of violence," added Daniel Vijil, from the youth institution El Milenio. Individuals should also limit the sharing of personal information and closely screen personal employees. There is no evidence suggesting criminals specifically target U.S. citizens, but foreigners have been targeted for crime due to their perceived wealth. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. DOS: Northern Triangle Country Conditions: Ranking the Highest and Lowest Areas of Reported, Homicides, Disappearances, and Extortion - May 2019. Honduras - Safety & Security ; Honduras - Country Commercial Guide Honduras Country Commercial Guide. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. CICESCT provided 76,970 lempiras ($3,080) to an NGO operating a shelter that accommodated women, girls, and boys up to age 12 and dedicated 318,040 lempiras ($12,720) to victims immediate needs including food, hygiene supplies, and lodging. My partner did not like me to go out, not even to church. Although Copan, Roatan/Bay Islands, and other tourist destinations have a lower crime rate than other parts of the country, thefts, break-ins, assaults, and murders do occur. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. "My respect to the brave women survivors of domestic violence! Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. 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. Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables. Sources indicate that organized criminal organizations have been . Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets. Criminal organizations, including gangs, exploit girls in sex trafficking, force children into street begging, and coerce and threaten children and young adults to transport weapons, sell drugs, commit extortion, or serve as lookouts; this occurred primarily in urban areas, but one NGO reported an increase in gang activity in rural areas. The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. Labor inspectors did not identify any suspected trafficking cases in 2020. 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. Regional advisory - Avoid non-essential travel. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. In past years, several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba shortly after arriving in the country. The government did not provide an update on its investigation of alleged sexual exploitation of a female prisoner in a correctional facility from the previous year. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law and be subject to local penalties. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. A woman is likely to be killed every 36 hours in this country. 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. 2018 toyota rav4 pros and cons. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as Barrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. 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. During 2019, multiple vehicles belonging to U.S. and Honduran employees of the U.S. Embassy were burglarized and/or vandalized on side streets around the Embassy compound. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. Humanitarian Assistance: Since April 2021, USAID reached approximately 1.9 million people impacted by recurrent droughts, COVID-19, and severe damage from Hurricanes Eta and Iota in northern. Major cities (e.g. Although crime and violent crime occur in all parts of Honduras, the north coast and central portions of the country have historically had the countrys highest crime rates. Assaults in these areas may be based on tips from sources at airport arrival areas, so visitors are strongly urged to exercise caution in discussing travel plans in public. 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. The women who have lost their lives violently this year are women who can no longer contribute to the economy and development of Honduras", she regretted.
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