The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. Periodic medical evaluations had not found Lobo healthy enough to proceed. There are claims of widespread corruption in land sales, deed filing, and dispute resolution, including claims against attorneys, real estate companies, judges, and local officials. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents ; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including threats to media members by criminal elements and the existence of criminal libel laws; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence against indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, and against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons. In terms of natural disasters, Honduras experiences a wet season from May to November that poses a number of dangerous threats, including hurricanes, landslides, mudslides, and flooding. 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. -threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. 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. Following anticorruption protests in 2015, President Hernandez signed an agreement with the Organization of American States to form the Mission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance forHonduras. The IACHR received information on frequent threats of lawsuits and prosecutions, including for slander and libel, hindering human rights work in Honduras. The law allows the release of other suspects pending formal charges, on the condition that they periodically report to authorities, although management of this reporting mechanism was often weak. For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. Ethnic minority rights leaders, international NGOs, and farmworker organizations claimed the government failed to redress actions taken by security forces, government agencies, private individuals, and businesses to dislodge farmers and indigenous persons from lands over which they claimed ownership based on land reform law or ancestral land titles. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. In February, journalist Henry Fiallos and his family received anonymous death threats after he covered a femicide in which police officers were implicated. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. 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. Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. On March 28, transgender activist Vanessa Zuniga was killed in Tela, Atlantida Department. 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 has been marred by irregularities. The law also sanctions abortion providers. There were allegations that companies used collective pacts, which are collective contracts with nonunionized workers, to prevent unionization and collective bargaining because only one collective contract may exist in each workplace. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. Honduras lacks a comprehensive legislative framework that includes women with disabilities and policies to combat domestic violence. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. The law requires prisoners to work at least five hours a day, six days a week. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. The security situation is expected to continue to deteriorate in 2020 and 2021. Authorities generally respected these rights. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. These workshops are part of a multiphase effort to promote transparency, cooperation,. The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. The trial began five years after the prize-winning activist's murder. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets are often unmarked even in major cities. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment Other Investment Policy Reviews Business Facilitation Outward Investment 2. . ; and read the State Departments webpage on, Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Media reported prison riots, violent confrontations, and killings between gang members in prisons throughout the year. 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. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. Nevertheless, Honduras had yet to sign the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escaz . Nicaragua used to be part of the CA-4 agreement, but in late 2017 began requiring travelers to register their travel purpose and destination online seven days in advance. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. In a 2020 survey by UNHCR and UNICEF, half of Hondurans interviewed in Mexico named violence as the main reason for their leaving. 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. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Avoid using Collectivos (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), Roleteros (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and Rapiditos (small buses that pick up multiple riders). For more in-depth information, review OSACs Honduras country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Advanced Training. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. Impunity remains the norm. or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). HONDURAS / 19 APR 2022 BY SETH ROBBINS EN. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. An independent press and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. 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). Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. 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. Prison conditions were harsh and at times life threatening due to pervasive gang-related violence and the governments failure to control criminal activity within the prisons. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population; as of September the National Prison Institute reported 106 prisoners had been treated for tuberculosis. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. It also provides key data, such as crime counts. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. Passing on blind corners is common. Cruise ship industry contacts report that approximately one million U.S. citizens enter the country by ship every year, primarily in Roatn, but also in La Ceiba on the northern coast. CONADEH received four reports as of August. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. 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 accused were in pretrial detention awaiting the next phase of the judicial process. 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. Serious crime in the city of Ojai was down for the third year in a row in 2022, according to figures released Feb. 22 by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Avoid using. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. Gracias a Diosis a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is scarce. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape of women or men, including spousal rape. The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but impunity was widespread. 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. A 59-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was . There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Call Us : 0353 - 2574030 | nina auchincloss straight. However, kidnapping figures are likely lower than reality, as families of kidnapping victims often pay ransoms without reporting these crimes to police out of fear of retribution. The law prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of emergency contraception for any reason, including for survivors of sexual violence. As of December 2020, internally displaced people in Honduras represented almost 80 percent of the internally displaced population in Central America and Mexico. The court found that Hernndez suffered harassment by police the night before she was killed, the police and military had effective control of the streets on the night she died, and Honduras conducted no effective investigation into her killing.