Impunity for such crimes was high. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. On September 22, the court in a preliminary hearing charged Eber Ezequiel Espinoza and Erick David Macas Rodrguez with quadruple homicide. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required Secretariat of Labor-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. 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. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Congressional Research Service - Honduras - 2019, 2020. 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. On January 19, alleged security force members detained Indigenous community leader Nicols Rodriguez in Azacualpa, Copn Department, for more than 24 hours before he was released. CONAPREV reported 17 violent deaths in prisons as of September. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common, with many pretrial detainees held with convicted prisoners. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Country-Specific Resources | VIGH Student Portal | Vanderbilt University 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 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. Hernndez had worked to promote Indigenous rights in a variety of roles including as president of the Network of Agroecologists of the Cacique Lempira Biosphere, as a member of the Network of Human Rights Defenders of the Department of Lempira, and as a radio host of the Lenca radio program Radio Tenan. 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. On March 1, the National Congress repealed the Law for the Classification of Public Documents Related to National Security and Defense, better known as the Secrets Law. Also see the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Perdomo was charged with the February 2021 murder of Keyla Martnez in La Esperanza, Intibuc Department. 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 government allocated a budget of 20 million lempiras ($796,000) to operate a protection mechanism for journalists, human rights defenders, and judicial sector operators. Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from criminal groups, drug trafficking organizations, or corrupt government officials. As of September, CONAPREV reported the countrys detention center for high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials, held 29 individuals. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. Penalties for violations of OSH law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes but rarely applied against violators and rarely collected. The Secretariat of Labor may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. 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. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. 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. ; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. Birth registration was provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Roads have poor lighting and markings. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. On February 2, the National Congress passed a retroactive amnesty law that absolved public officials who worked during the Zelaya Administration (2006-09) of crimes. On September 16, the cabinet approved an executive decree to create a General Directorate of Information and Press under the Ministry of Strategic Planning. Animals and people wander onto the roads. The Military Police of Public Order report to military authorities but conduct operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders. Honduras received support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the development of an e-procurement platform and public procurement auditing. Contraception supplies were limited, as were many other critical medicines, due to the governments dismantling of its public health procurement system in May. The government has also begun implementing a series of police reforms; it has formed groups such as the National Inter-Agency Security Task Force (FUSINA) and the National Anti-Gang Task Force (FNAMP) to combat crime. Persons suspected of any of 21 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. In 2019 (most recent data), 94 percent of births were attended by skilled health-care personnel; however, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. 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 Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. For more information, please visit OSAC.gov . Gangs control some of the taxi services. Please review OSAC's Honduras-specific webpage for proprietary analytic reports, Consular Messages, and contact information. Review OSACs report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. In addition, women experienced delays in accessing justice due to police who failed to process complaints in a timely manner or judicial system officials who deferred scheduling hearings. 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. 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. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. 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. 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. 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. Enforcement of OSH standards was particularly weak in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. Despite incremental progress, government capacities remained relatively nascent and limited. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. In the security and domestic service sectors, workers were frequently forced to work more than 60 hours per week but paid only for 44 hours. Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo was found guilty of fraud and misappropriation of public funds during a retrial on March 17. January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Authorities continued to investigate the incident. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. 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. Unions also raised concerns that employers used temporary contracts to prevent unionization and to avoid providing full benefits. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. The law states that a womans employment should be appropriate to her physical state and capacity. The United Nations reported the adolescent birth rate was 89 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. Although penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and fines, they were not sufficient to deter violations. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. The limited capacity of the government to enforce international standards related to natural resource exploitation has resulted in higher levels of conflict in the extractive and electrical generation industries. 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. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. On October 17, the Public Ministry charged four unit officials for their involvement in Prezs killing. There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 0730-1630; Friday, 0800-1500, Tel: +504-2236-9320; After Hours: +504-2236-8497, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, Banco Atlntida Building, 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park, San Pedro Sula, Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 1200-1600, Website: https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. As of October, at least 24 defendants used the law to have corruption cases dismissed. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. 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. On April 28, the National Congress repealed the 2014 hourly wage law, thus bringing all employees under the national labor code and eliminating the previous differences in labor benefits between hourly, temporary, and permanent employees. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Both the secretariat and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) expressed concern regarding weak implementation of the law, limited resources available to operate the governments protection mechanism, and insufficient training for new personnel after significant personnel turnover during the year. This resulted in multiple protests by environmentalist groups claiming the project is illegal due to the damage to the bioreserve and exacerbating the citys already dire water shortage. Children, including from Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Contact OSACsLatin Americateam with any questions or to join. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 2023. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. As of August, CONADEH had received 35 complaints. OSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations. Latest News. Avoid using. 19 Nov. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Honduras. The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and Indigenous activist Berta Cceres. 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. Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population. Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Your session will expire soon and log you out. On December 2, the court found Aarn Jeriel lvarez Pavn guilty of Rodrguezs murder. The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. 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. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. 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? In 2019, there was one murder case involving a resident U.S. citizen in Roatn. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. The law grants prisoners the right to prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and, if indigent, to government-provided counsel, although the public defender mechanism was weak, and authorities did not always abide by these requirements. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - DocsLib OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a foreign environment. The Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), established in 2016 through an agreement between the government and the Organization of American States.