The law permits strikes by workers in export-processing zones and free zones for companies that provide services to industrial parks, but it requires that strikes not impede the operations of other factories in such parks. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or opposition party policies. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. The Honduran National Polices Special Victims Investigations Unit, formerly known as the Violent Crimes Task Force, investigated crimes against high-profile and particularly vulnerable victims, including journalists as well as judges, lawyers, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community. The government investigated and prosecuted many of these crimes, particularly through the national police's Violent Crimes Task Force. The Public Ministry received one report of discrimination based on an individuals disability as of September. 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. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. 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. The designation requires banks to impose a higher level of scrutiny on politically exposed persons financial transactions. The Public Ministry is responsible for prosecuting violations. There were numerous reports of government corruption during the year. Roads have poor lighting and markings. 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 and Social Security (STSS) before striking. The report showed that property crime was up 6% and violent . The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. The Murray family believes "someone knows something" about what happened to Maura Murray, who went missing in 2004. Nevertheless, social discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons persisted, as did physical violence. Penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and monetary fines. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. In most prisons only inmates who purchased bottled water or had water filters in their cells had access to potable water. Penalties for violations of occupational safety and health law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes. OVERALL RISK : MEDIUM Honduras is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers. 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. CONAPREV conducted 138 visits to prisons as of September. The law prohibits all the worst forms of child labor. 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. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. ELITES AND CRIME / 1 NOV 2022 Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. As of August it continued to provide protection to 12 journalists, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. Civil society continued to raise problems with minimum wage violations, highlighting agricultural companies in the south as frequent violators. . Her most recent evaluation was in August, and the court declared her fit to stand trial in September. Prisoners suffered from overcrowding, insufficient access to food and water, violence, and alleged abuse by prison officials. There was limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. The Cattrachas Lesbian Network reported 17 violent deaths of LGBTQI+ persons as of August. The STSS may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. 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. Occupational Safety and Health: The government did not effectively enforce occupational safety and health standards, particularly in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. We are considering visiting Roatan and have read about the crime rate being high, home invasions, break ins etc. NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination and promote equal access to government services or employment opportunities. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. 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. In 2020, 278 women were murdered in the country and, as of November 2021, more than 240 women have lost their lives violently. 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. The security situation is expected to continue to deteriorate in 2020 and 2021. Penalties for facilitating child sex trafficking are six to 12 years in prison and monetary fines. Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. Survivors of domestic violence are entitled to certain protective measures, such as removing the abuser from the home and prohibiting the abuser from visiting the victims work or other frequently visited places. The National Interinstitutional Security Force coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the national police, military police of public order, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry during interagency operations. Vasquez was the leader of the Union of Field Workers, a member of the Lenca community, an environmental activist, and a LIBRE Party candidate for Congress. Nonetheless, many prisoners remained in custody after completing their full sentences, and sometimes even after an acquittal, because officials failed to process their releases expeditiously. Plan your next stop before . Compared to other countries around the world, Honduras is still one of the most violent places in the world with a homicide rate of 44.7 per 100,000 in 2019. 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. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from organized criminal groups or corrupt government officials. The law requires that persons with disabilities have access to buildings, but few buildings were accessible, and the government did not effectively implement laws or programs to provide such access. Congressional Research Service - Honduras - 2019, 2020. in september 2021, honduras added 315 new participants and in november 2021, guatemala graduated a class of 120 women, including representatives from highland and afro-guatemalan garifuna. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. 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. This was the result of strong legislation, low cybersecurity exposure (how exposed the digital infrastructure is) and the exceptional top score at the Global Cybersecurity Index, one of the . Effective June 2, 2021: All travelers, regardless of age, must provide either proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or negative test results for a PCR, Antigen or ELISA COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before entry into Honduras. The change increases the penalty from two to four years to four to six years. Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. 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. The governments National Policy to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination seeks to promote equality and combat discrimination related to the countrys seven indigenous and two Afro-descendent groups, with a focus on social and political participation; access to education, health care, justice, and employment opportunities; and rights to ancestral lands and natural resources. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. A 2019 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights report noted there were insufficient hospital beds and inadequate supplies at the only hospital that serviced Gracias a Dios Department, home to most of the Miskito community. The law prohibits all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. The findings highlight the potential power these four manufacturers have to combat trafficking; if these four manufacturers took action on their own, the national impact could be substantial. The law places restrictions on these rights, such as requiring that a recognized trade union represent at least 30 workers, prohibiting foreign nationals from holding union offices, and requiring that union officials work in the same substantive area of the business as the workers they represent. The Public Ministry reported two such cases in judicial processing and five other cases under investigation as of September. The government of Andorra approved a 3.3 percent increase in the minimum wage that went into effect January 1, 2022, bringing it to 6.68 euros (roughly USD 7.40) per . Honduras's peak of violent crime was . Travel on a full tank of gas and stop frequently for fill-ups; keep your tank at least half-filled as you travel. Administrative penalties were insufficient to deter violations and were rarely enforced. honduras crime and safety report 2021. These workers are not covered by the contributory social security system and are not protected by the labor code. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. Persons with HIV and AIDS continued to be targets of discrimination, and they suffered disproportionately from gender-based violence. 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. Your safety is your responsibility, so be vigilant. The Taliban, which regained control of the country in 2021, has pledged to stamp out the opium industry, but it is such a vital part of the country's struggling economy that it will be difficult to eliminate. 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. Tourists in Belize are often victims of theft, but few experience real violence. 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 Secretariat of Human Rights stated it was taking every precaution to protect prisoners rights and assure that the work provided opportunities for prisoners to develop skills they could use in legal economic activities after their release. Honduras. 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. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. Security Alert: "La Embajada" Bar (12 January, 2023) Message for U.S. Citizens regarding Extension to the State of Exception in Honduras (9 January, 2023) Message for U.S. Citizens regarding State of Exception beginning December 6 (5 December, 2022) Weather Alert for U.S. Citizens - Tropical Storm Lisa (2 November, 2022) The safety situation in Honduras has been deteriorating in recent years due to gang violence and organized crime. A large percentage of the population in Honduras is armed. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. Visiting Honduras right now is as safe as it ever was: not very. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice-sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. Impunity and excessive use of force Keyla Martnez died of asphyxia in February in police custody after being arrested for breaking the curfew imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. Some larger cities have police forces that operate independently of the national police and report to municipal authorities. The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. Also see the Department of Labors Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings. The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2015 was 56.49, a 14.12% decline from 2014. The government launched a new Ministry of Transparency in November 2020 to address some of these concerns. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. The incident allegedly occurred in a place of employment. 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. You can add more than one country or area. Military Abuses and Extrajudicial Killings. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. The law presumes an accused person is innocent. Alerts. The release of the 2021 Safety Report is a reminder that even as aviation faces its deepest crisis, we are committed to making aviation even safer. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. 26 Feb 2021. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. Thousands of Hondurans affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota, violence and poverty were forced to leave the country and headed north. Oral updates and . The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests . By law all minors between the ages of 14 and 18 in most industries must receive special permission from the STSS to work, and the STSS must perform a home study to verify that there is an economic need for the child to work and that the child does not work outside the country or in hazardous conditions, including in offshore fishing. 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. 'Free Associated State of Puerto Rico'), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated territory of the United States.It is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami . Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru. Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region, with 6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011: DOS International Religious Freedom Report - 2021, 2020, . By law the STSS may fine companies that violate the right to freedom of association. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. Independent Monitoring: The government generally permitted prison visits by independent local and international human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Defendants may not be compelled to testify or confess guilt. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce this right. As of September CONADEH had received 33 complaints. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. The law prohibits police from unionizing (see section 7.a.). The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. According to the Global Cybercrime Report, the United States reached the prominent third-best position with a Cyber-Safety Score of 8.73. With a crime index of 74.54, Honduras ranks fifth in the world in terms of crime rate. 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. 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. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. 2016 (PDF) 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. 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. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated and arrested members of the military accused of human rights abuses. On April 27, the Public Ministry filed an indictment against police officer Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento for the February 6 murder of Keyla Martinez in La Esperanza, Intibuca Department. They face violence from gangs, the national civil police and the. It prohibits employer retribution against employees for engaging in trade union activities. Performance. CONAPREV reported 13 violent deaths in prisons as of September. The government used the pretrial detention center to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials. 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. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. The law permits defendants to confront witnesses against them and offer witnesses and evidence in their defense. Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted for violence. The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. CONAPREV reported every prison had a functioning health clinic with at least one medical professional, but basic medical supplies and medicines were in short supply throughout the prison system. Safety and security Crime There are high levels of crime in Honduras. CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. 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 declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. It stipulates that a prosecutor has 24 additional hours to decide if there is probable cause for indictment, whereupon a judge has 24 more hours to decide whether to issue a temporary detention order. Number. 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. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. 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. The state of emergency, in place since Dec. 6 in 165 areas of Honduras' largest two cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, has been expanded to 235 of the country's 298 municipalities, the . Regulations for implementing the law remained under development as of November. The law allows persons charged with some felonies to avail themselves of bail and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. Around 2,000,000 tourists visited Honduras, of which most would've visited the three-bay islands. More than four million Hondurans were affected by Eta and Iota, UN agencies stated in a situation report covering up to January 13, the eve of migrant caravan groups departing from the bus. Office of the U.S. In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate increased from 1.8 percent in 2019 to 3 percent in 2020 but improved to 2.2 percent as of the fourth quarter of 2021. mayo 29, 2022 . The directorate issued 1,379 recommendations to the Ministry of Security for disciplinary actions as of September following internal investigations of national police members. Today at the World Economic Forum, Administrator Samantha Power announced the Administration's intent to work with Congress to provide $125 million to support the resilience of Ukraine's energy and utility infrastructure in the face of the Russian Federation's relentless, systematic attacks. Plan your outings in advance and enjoy Roatan. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. The secretariat reported assisting 127 IDPs as of August. Although the law prohibits such practices, government officials received complaints and investigated alleged abuses by members of the security forces on the streets and in detention centers. 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. Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. Authorities often did not effectively enforce the law. Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. As of September the Secretariat of Human Rights reported the countrys pretrial detention center held 33 individuals. Wage and Hour Laws: There are 45 categories of monthly minimum wage, based on the industry and the size of a companys workforce; the minimum average was above the poverty line. The government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to properly respond to, investigate and prosecute cases. Her retrial was scheduled for February 2022. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Countering Corruption-Enabled Transnational Crime: A Practice Note for Program Officers and Practitioners. In 2021, four gun manufacturers accounted for over half of the recovered crime guns: Glock (21.1%), Smith & Wesson (13.5%), Taurus (13.0%), and Ruger (7.0%). - March 2003 Non-Government Organization Reports Human Rights Watch 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. 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. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. October and February were the deadliest months, with 43 and 38 women murdered on account of their gender, respectively. Persons from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continued to experience discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services. Download the 2021 annual crime report below. See. Within the broad range of violent deaths, the core element of intentional homicide is the complete liability of the direct perpetrator, which thus excludes killings directly related to war or conflicts, self-inflicted death (suicide), killings due to legal . Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. These sort of crimes can be avoided by dressing down, being careful about where expensive belongings are left, and keeping to safe areas. Official data on forced internal displacement, especially displacement due to violence, was limited in part because gangs controlled many of the neighborhoods that were sources of internal displacement (see section 6, Displaced Children). 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. There have been frequent incidents of carjacking and highway robbery on a number of roads including the main highway (CA-5) between San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, with the greatest risk between Potrerillos and Pito Solo in the lake area.
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October 13, 2022
