An NGO noted courts continued to delay trafficking cases despite a requirement in the anti-trafficking law to process such cases in a timely manner, an issue further exacerbated by the pandemic. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due to crime. "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. Story written by Maria ElenaClix, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Honduras. The following reports are broken down by campus alphabetically: Abington 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (pdf) There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. In 2013, Honduras had the highest rate of violent deaths of women in the world. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. Quarter of residents in Yangon's poorest areas often go without income, From Grief to Growth: Supporting a Woman Farmer in Lebanon, Reaching the last mile in Uganda: Decentralised Coordination for impact, Strengthening Resident Coordinator Leadership, Violence against women, the other pandemic impacting Honduras, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects. Armed robbery is a common problem, with armed bandits attacking minibusses and vans loaded with tourists traveling from the airport to their hotels in San Pedro Sula. 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. Victims who tested positive for COVID-19 faced delays or limitations in receiving services from shelters. Backlinks from other websites and blogs are the lifeblood of our site and are our primary source of new traffic. Of November 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 crimes are carried out by acting., 2022, in Uvalde, Texas in Action - Honduras /a > Qatar iverson house . Travelers should always drive with their doors locked and windows rolled up to avoid potential robberies at traffic lights and other places, such as congested downtown streets. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. 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. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. Crimes against U.S. citizens in the past year have ranged from petty theft to violent offenses, including armed robbery, home invasion, sexual assault, and several instances of murder and attempted murder. Yes, despite all the historical crime and violence, which don't affect tourists, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2023. Three LGBTQ+ People Were Killed in Honduras on Same Day In June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found that Honduras had violated the rights to life and personal integrity of Vicky Hernndez, a transgender woman, sex worker and activist killed during the 2009 coup. Credit card skimming is common. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. The government offered services to both forced labor and sex trafficking victims but identified a disproportionately low number of forced labor victims compared to the estimated prevalence of forced labor in the country. These areas are well known for narcotics smuggling and violence. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. honduras crime and safety report 2021 - nautilusva.com Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. The campaign and its different audiovisual assets have been broadcasted by over 15 media outlets nationwide and free of charge, including the country's most-watched TV network. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Honduras. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. Highlights July 27, 2022: Student Reports of Bullying: Results from the 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey July 12, 2022: Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools in 2019-20: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety June 28, 2022: The juvenile penal system issued a sentence of six months house arrest for one convicted trafficker who was a child. Total Exports. While there are no areas in major urban cities free of violent crime, notably dangerous locations in Tegucigalpa include the areas surrounding Suyapa Cathedral, downtown Comayagela, downtown Tegucigalpa, and neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city that are generally controlled by gangs. Increase government funding for victim services, including to NGOs, and anti-trafficking police and prosecutorial units. 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. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks However, Honduran law enforcement authorities ability to prevent, respond to, and investigate criminal incidents and prosecute criminals is limited. The immediate response team provided 67 victims of trafficking and related crimes with assistance, including legal advice, immediate protection, and psychological services. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. 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. The government investigated two police officials for suspected trafficking crimes and six police officials for smuggling crimes that may have increased migrants vulnerability to trafficking. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Although many tourists come to this city, there is a high crime rate, which is worth remembering when planning a trip to this city. Crime Information for Tourists in Ecuador Crime is a severe problem in Ecuador. "Indeed, women are the affected ones, but as men, we have a greater opportunity to influence other men and make them reflect on how we impact our sisters, friends and colleagues with our behaviour. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Officials report family problems, unemployment, and lack of access to healthcare exacerbate these risks. Honduras | Crisis Group 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. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. Travelers in those areas should use extra caution. My partner did not like me to go out, not even to church. Passing on blind corners is common. Congressional Research Service - Honduras - 2019, 2020. and the scope of organized crime in Honduras. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - DocsLib 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. Ocean via the Gulf of Fonseca in the Caribbean and access to the local police and property crime 1. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. Choose taxis carefully, and note the drivers name and license number. Annual Security Reports | University Police & Public Safety Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) ", expressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, on Twitter. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. The government cooperated with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to investigate trafficking cases and detain suspects. Article 219 of the Honduran penal code, which came into effect in June 2020, criminalized sex and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of five to eight years imprisonment. Death threats and gang violence forcing more families to - ReliefWeb Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report. Is San Pedro Sula Safe for Travel in 2023? African Jacana Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. . Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. If you use our datasets on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. During the presentation of these findings, Alice Shackelford called for "changing the narrative and expressing our intolerance towards this type of violence". One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Individuals should also limit the sharing of personal information and closely screen personal employees. See the description of highways/areas to be avoided in the Traffic Safety and Road Conditions section below for details. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Honduras, visit Honduras.UN.org. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Children living on the streets are at risk for sex and labor trafficking. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. The government has established a special tourist police in the resort town of Tela and other tourist destinations including Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and Roatan, but the number of tourist police deployed is small and coverage is limited. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). Is Roatn Safe - Is it Safe for Tourists to Travel on the Island of Roatn? However, with respect to sex trafficking, these penalties were not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Hondurans continue to be affected by MS-13 and Calle 18 gang activity in cities such as Tegucigalpa, Choloma, La Ceiba, Tela, and San Pedro Sula. 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. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, are at risk for forced labor in the agricultural, construction, manufacturing, mining, and hospitality industries. Avoid traveling at night and always drive with doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. The municipalities in which kidnappings were reported include: Districto Central (4), Jacaleapa (1), Trojes (1), Siguatepeque (1), Puerto Cortes (1), Lejamani (1), Tocoa (1), Tela (1), and Comayagua (1). As of August 2020, more than 21,000. The government identified fewer victims overall and investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer suspects.