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. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). S.S.S. Total "Part 1" crimes violent crimes of homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; and property crimes of burglary, theft and . 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. The trial began five years after the prize-winning activist's murder. On April 23, the Public Ministry arrested and charged Josue Exequiel Martinez Martinez, Siriaco Mejia Santos, Francisco Lopez Lazo, and Mario Anibal Lopez Velasquez for the December 2020 murder of Felix Vasquez. Deputies arrested James Weatherly, 63, after serving a search warrant on a property in the 1300 block of West First Street in Halsey, an agency news release said. Contact OSACs, https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Travel Advisory: Honduras - Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), Central America Natural Disaster Emergency Planning: OSAC Guidance and Resources. In 2019, seven others were convicted for carrying out the killing. The law allows only local unions to call strikes, prohibits labor federations and confederations from calling strikes, and requires that a two-thirds majority of both union and nonunion employees at an enterprise approve a strike. Overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, beatings, intra-gang violence, and killings are endemic in prisons. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. . The government considers rape a crime of public concern, and the state prosecutes rapists even if victims do not press charges. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. The law prohibits all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Independent Monitoring: The government generally permitted prison visits by independent local and international human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. 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. Limited inspections could facilitate movements of terrorists. The STSS may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. 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. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. 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. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. Even when traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. Nongovernmental Impact: Some journalists and other members of civil society reported threats from members of organized criminal groups. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. CONADEH received four reports as of August. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice-sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. 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. Transgender women were particularly vulnerable to employment and education discrimination; many could find employment only as sex workers, increasing their vulnerability to violence and extortion. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations. Share this via WhatsApp Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. The legal age of consent is 18. . The law prohibits the use of children younger than 18 for exhibitions or performances of a sexual nature or in the production of pornography. Sale 2022; Contact; Follow us INSTAGRAM + 18morebest coffeethe bakers wife, mr foxx, and more Contul meu Intr n cont do they still make the marathon candy bar. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. Defendants may receive free assistance from an interpreter. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. As of September the Public Ministry had received nine reports of racial or ethnic discrimination. Thirty-four percent of women ages 20 to 24 had married when they were 15 to 19, a UN Population Fund study conducted from 2005 to 2019 found. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment; penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. However, many petitions for pandemic release have been rejected. Victims were primarily impoverished individuals in both rural and urban areas (see section 7.c.). Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media, b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association, d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country, e. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination, the failure of the government to collect the fines facilitated continued labor law violations. Honduras lacks a comprehensive legislative framework that includes women with disabilities and policies to combat domestic violence. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. Children often worked on melon, coffee, okra, and sugarcane plantations as well as in other agricultural production; scavenged at garbage dumps; worked in the forestry and fishing sectors; worked as domestic servants; peddled goods such as fruit; begged; washed cars; hauled goods; and labored in limestone quarrying and lime production. Natural Disasters Risk: Medium. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. Share this via Reddit CONAPREV reported 13 violent deaths in prisons as of September. The law permits defendants to confront witnesses against them and offer witnesses and evidence in their defense. Through August CONADEH received six reports of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. Violence against LGBT individuals displaces many internally and forces others to leave the country to seek asylum. 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. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. Gangs control some of the taxi services. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Prisoners suffered from overcrowding, insufficient access to food and water, violence, and alleged abuse by prison officials. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y Pandillas), with members from the police, military, and Attorney Generals Office. Animals and people wander onto the roads. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. 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. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). The law entered into force on November 1. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. 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. The Supreme Court, particularly its president, exerts excessive control over the appointment and removal of judges, and career instability limits judges independence. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. These workshops are part of a multiphase effort to promote transparency, cooperation,. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common and problematic, with many other pretrial detainees held in the general population with convicted prisoners. According to the secretariat, the system was designed for approximately 10,600 inmates. Review OSACs reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, Im Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The Donts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad. 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Honduras, An official website of the United States Government, https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html, https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. 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. Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. Judges face interferenceincluding political pressure, threats, and harassmentfrom the executive branch, private actors with connections to government, and gangs. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 38 reports of arbitrary arrest through August. Review OSACs reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? 2018 toyota rav4 pros and cons. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Pandy was a human rights and land rights activist. The government did not effectively enforce the law. It named 21 from Honduras, including former President Porfirio Lobo Sosa (2010-2014), who became ineligible for visas and admission to the US. Title insurance is not widely available in Honduras and approximately 80% of the privately held land in the country is either untitled or improperly titled. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. While all formal workers are entitled to social security, there were reports that both public- and private-sector employers failed to pay into the social security system. Credit card skimming is common. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. osac crime and safety report honduras Posted on July 8, 2021by Published by at June 7, 2022. Bureau of Diplomatic Security The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. It was unclear how many of these threats were related to the victims professions or activism. 19 ianuarie 2023 Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is sufficient to deter violations and commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor code violations. The government generally respected these provisions. Honduras voted in favor of an OAS resolution rejecting Venezuelas December 2020 elections, which have been widely considered fraudulent. This figure is projected to rise by 0.5 million by June 2023. Support and resources from a four-year Organization of American States (OAS) mission to strengthen the fight against corruption and impunity, concluded in January 2020, have not produced lasting reforms. 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. Roads have poor lighting and markings. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. 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. There are no legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities brought before the Honduran judicial system, and no reports of judicial developments that would have a negative impact on U.S. counterterrorism efforts. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. Review the State Departments webpage on security for, Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities.