Abusive 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. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. PDF Honduras 2018 Crime & Safety Report - WordPress.com 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 CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance forHonduras. As of August, CONADEH received 25 reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry, new national identification cards, and new technologies that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. The rainy season usually runs May-November. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. 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. The law prohibits workers from legally striking until direct negotiations and government-accompanied mediation and conciliation have failed. 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. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of illegal drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. Honduras - United States Department of State 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. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. Campbell, who had been on the run for five years after being charged with money laundering in Honduras, was arrested in June 2021 in Nicaragua. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Overseas Security Advisory Council - Homepage - U.S. Embassy The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. 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. On May 26, National Police officers allegedly entered the home of human rights defender Deninson Escalante in El Palenque, Choluteca Department, without a warrant, searched the house, and beat Escalantes parents, brother, and nephew. In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. . Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? 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. NOTE: OSAC RESOURCE TASK GROUP (RTG . The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. 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, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. 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. On September 21, the court sentenced her to more than 14 years in prison and ordered her to pay a fine of more than 13 million lempiras ($518,000). The four were accused of the 2020 killing of Flix Vsquez, leader of the Union of Field Workers, a member of the Lenca community, an environmental activist, and a LIBRE Party candidate for Congress. Wage and Hour Laws: There are 45 categories of monthly minimum wage, based on the industry and the size of a companys workforce; minimum wages were above the poverty line. Media noted that family members often faced long delays or were unable to visit detainees. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over security forces. Overseas Security Advisory Council Nevertheless, discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons throughout society persisted. Abuse of Migrants and Refugees: Transiting migrants, forcibly displaced populations, and asylum seekers with pending cases were vulnerable to abuse and sexual exploitation by criminal organizations. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. 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. The law mandates that authorities release detainees whose cases have not yet come to trial and whose time in pretrial detention already exceeds the maximum prison sentence for their alleged crime. OSAC encourages travelers to, to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. The prosecution may request an additional six-month extension, but many detainees remained in pretrial detention much longer, including for more time than the maximum period of incarceration for their alleged crime. 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. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Discrimination and Societal Abuses, Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination, Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics, Other Societal Violence and Discrimination, a. 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. 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. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. PF79-84SW: Honduras 2018 Crime & Safety Report - Archive Employers frequently refused to comply with Secretariat of Labor orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Country-Specific Resources | VIGH Student Portal | Vanderbilt University The Secretariat of Labor has the power to declare a work stoppage illegal and grants employers the ability to discipline employees consistent with their internal regulations, including by firing strikers, if the secretariat rules that a work stoppage is illegal. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - United States Department of Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence, a. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported two arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupn, Lenca, Maya-Chort, and Nahua. Honduras - Organized Crime News - InSight Crime 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. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. Authorities continued to search for the individuals who ordered the homicide. Civil society continued to raise problems with minimum wage violations, highlighting agricultural companies in the south as frequent violators. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - United States Department of The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and Indigenous activist Berta Cceres. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. 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. osac crime and safety report hondurasmary catherine o'shea daughter of virginia mayo. Under the inspection law, the Secretariat of Labor has the authority to temporarily shut down workplaces where there is an imminent danger of fatalities. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). Passing on blind corners is common. In addition, the monitoring center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by 2020 natural disasters. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. A lower court provisionally dismissed Rubs fraud charge on September 20, and the Public Ministry appealed the decision. 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 system. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. On May 31, members of the National Anti-Gang Unit shot and killed Wilson Ariel Prez Hernndez in San Pedro Sula, Corts Department. By law, police may make arrests only with a warrant unless they make the arrest during the commission of a crime, there is strong suspicion that a person has committed a crime and might otherwise evade criminal prosecution, or they encounter a person in possession of evidence related to a crime. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo was found guilty of fraud and misappropriation of public funds during a retrial on March 17. The government noted the decree was to better organize its own public relations efforts and was not intended to monitor or control content. They had limited representation in the national government and consequently little direct input into decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions, and the allocation of natural resources. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. Such an order may be effective for up to six days, after which the judge must hold a pretrial hearing to examine whether there is probable cause to continue pretrial detention. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Since 2010, 42. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. Discrimination: The law criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity characteristics and includes crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. The government did not effectively enforce the law. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. The law prohibits and criminalizes all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. 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). 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 of opposition party policies. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. Failure to register resulted in denial of public services, including access to health services or school enrollment. how to horizontally center a div in bootstrap. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. Government Human Rights Bodies: A semiautonomous commissioner for human rights, Blanca Izaguirre, served as ombudsperson and investigated complaints of human rights abuses. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. Review OSACs reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Departments webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Review OSACs reports, The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for, The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to the Inter-American Human Rights system. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. Powerful special interests, including criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. 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. Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters or events. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. 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. The Honduran government is modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, which can lead to increased travel times because of ongoing construction. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Medical care is limited. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Child Abuse: The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence (i.e., prosecution failed to submit sufficient evidence of guilt), judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program.
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