Is Honduras Safe to Travel Alone Traveling solo is becoming more popular and within Latin America, more people including myself have set out to travel alone. "My respect to the brave women survivors of domestic violence! U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. Traffickers exploit Honduran adults and children in forced labor in street vending, forced begging, domestic service, drug trafficking, and the informal sector in their own country, as well as forced labor in other countries, particularly Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. 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. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. Most often, pickpocketing and theft of bags and wallets occur here. Honduras - Safety & Security - International Trade Administration Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. CountryReports 1997 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford meets with survivors at a local safe house. In 2012, a U.S. citizen reported that his boat was boarded and his passengers were the victims of an armed robbery while sailing in Honduran waters near Puerto Cortes, three miles north of Punta Sal. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. The governments disaggregated victim data included some victims of related crimes such as child pornography; all identified victims were Honduran citizens and included 43 children and 24 adults, 56 females and 10 males, and one LGBTQI+ individual. 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. 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. 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. 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, "Two years ago, I came asking for help at a time when I couldn't take it anymore, to the extent that I intended to attempt against my life, with no hope for anything. The UNSDG guides, supports, tracks and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 have affected Honduras. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. Increase efforts to identify victims, including among particularly vulnerable populations such as adult migrants, and provide assistance to all victims, including forced labor victims. Should a U.S. citizen be kidnapped, local authorities and the U.S. Embassy should be contacted immediately. My decision was to die." Ecuador Crime. Safety and crime information on Ecuador | CountryReports Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. During July 2019 alone, the cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa recorded 11 attacks leaving 15 people dead, mostly taxi drivers and bus drivers. Information provided is subject to change without notice. Correspondent John Holman reports from San Pedro Sula in Honduras, a city with the highest murder rate in the world, on how organized crime is devastating co. The last two years have shone an unflattering light . . 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. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. The UN takes all reports of possible wrongdoing seriously. Honduran regulations prohibited charging recruitment fees to workers, but the government did not report enforcement of these regulations in 2020. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Experts observed that judges lack of specialized knowledge or experience in handling trafficking cases impeded successful prosecution and conviction of cases. Mass protests and the government's heavy-handed response have damaged the economy and sparked deadly . We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your data export is now complete. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. Figures likely to be an underestimate, says Global Witness, as land defenders are killed by hitmen, crime groups and governments Published: 28 Sep 2022 More than 1,700 environmental activists . 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. Exercise particular caution walking on isolated beaches, especially at night. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Honduras - Organized Crime News - InSight Crime Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The government has also begun implementing a series of police reforms; it has formed groups such as the National Inter-Agency Security Task Force (FUSINA) and the National Anti-Gang Task Force (FNAMP) to combat crime. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Honduras. Government agencies, including CICESCT, its local committees, the Public Ministry, the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Secretariat of Education, provided anti-trafficking trainings to police, lawyers, judges, other government officials, tourism professionals, civil society organizations, teachers, and members of the public throughout the country; due to the pandemic, the government conducted the majority of trainings virtually, which allowed them to reach more stakeholders and decrease costs. Three LGBTQ+ People Were Killed in Honduras on Same Day Crime in Roatan, Honduras. 2022 estimated. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Criminals and pickpockets target visitors as they enter and depart airports and hotels, so visitors should consider carrying their passports and valuables in a concealed pouch. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. According to InSight Crime, the crime rate has decreased by 26%, which is what the Honduran government is aiming to work on if they expect more visitors per year. According to the Peruvian National Police ( PNP ), crime increased 15% in 2021. 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. Law enforcement, immigration, and social service providers had written procedures for identifying and assisting victims, including screening for indicators of trafficking among vulnerable populations and referring potential victims to CICESCTs immediate response team. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. CICESCT maintained a public website and launched social media accounts to share information on human trafficking with the public. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Honduras remained on Tier 2. 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. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. Explore and easily find UNSDG publications. In comparison, the government identified 75 victims (66 in sex trafficking and 9 in forced labor) and NGOs identified 78 victims in 2019, and the government identified 73 victims (63 in sex trafficking and 10 in forced labor) in 2018. U.S. citizens are encouraged to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, especially when entering or exiting their homes, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. Copyright 2023 United Nations Sustainable Development Group. 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 their wellbeing and that of their families. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid Total Exports. Migrants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, and South America who transit Honduras en route to the United States are vulnerable to being exploited in trafficking. "Honduras: Death of Keyla Martnez demands prompt, exhaustive and impartial investigation", 9 February Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Honduras Crime. Safety and crime information on Honduras 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. Crime & Safety Surveys (CSS) - Overview - National Center for Education Shall I live on, or shall I die? Caption: On 25th November, women and men rallied together to raise awareness of the increasing femicide rates and growing violence against women and girls at a UN-supported event. Civil society continues to advocate for this law to be passed and the United Nations has joined in these efforts. "The issue of gender-based violence is a central human rights issue. La Ceiba, Trujillo) and major hotels; other tourist installations have increased private and police security. Last update: October 2022. 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. One U.S. citizen was reported kidnapped between January and September 2013.. and the scope of organized crime in Honduras. 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. Honduras sees 318 cases of femicide in 2021: Report - Anadolu Ajans Ocean via the Gulf of Fonseca in the Caribbean and access to the local police and property crime 1. Total Local Production. Violence against women, the other pandemic impacting Honduras Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. 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. Traffickers exploit Honduran women and children in sex trafficking within the country and in other countries such as Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. How Safe Is San Pedro Sula for Travel? - Abroad Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. Learn about employment opportunities across the UNSDG. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. The government modernized its national identification card system and began distributing new national identification cards in February 2021. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations 169 Convention, which requires free prior notice and informed consent from indigenous communities before any development projects can begin; the congress has not approved a law regulating this process. Despite significant Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. 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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