Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. 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. 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. Public-sector trade unionists raised concerns regarding government interference in trade union activities, including its ignoring or suspending collective agreements and its dismissals of union members and leaders. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Birth registration was provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. On January 10, unknown assailants shot and killed transgender activist Thala Rodrguez in her home in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazn Department. About. OSAC 2022-N-0025, Standard for Initial Response at Scenes by Scene Investigators. The law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Todd J. In some industries, including agriculture, domestic service, and security, employers did not respect maternity rights or pay minimum wage, overtime, or vacation. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. 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. 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. Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The Secretariat of Labor is responsible for enforcing wage, hour, and OSH laws, but it did so inconsistently and ineffectively. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (. ) 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. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Criminalization: No laws exist to criminalize same-sex conduct. The Military Police of Public Order report to military authorities but conduct operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders. 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. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. 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. Observers noted this effort was insufficient due to inadequate budget allocations, limited or no services in rural areas, absence of or inadequate training about and awareness of domestic violence among police and other authorities, and male-dominant culture and norms. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. 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 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. Authorities continued to search for the individuals who ordered the homicide. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Discrimination: Although the law accords women and men the same legal rights and status, including property rights in divorce cases, many women did not fully enjoy such rights due to barriers in access to justice and lack of information regarding legal protections. NGOs and other civil society groups generally considered the commissioner independent but at times ineffective. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Honduras - United States Department of Justice Violators face penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of their professional licenses, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. OSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations. Profile. In these sectors, employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victims family member. The rainy season usually runs May-November. Transiting migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations continued to face acute security risks in border zones. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. Honduras. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. ; 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. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment, and stipulates penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of the abusers professional licenses. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. In July, police arrested two men. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and, (small buses that pick up multiple riders). 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. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing 911. Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of illegal drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. Honduras is one of the Western Hemisphere's deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Review the State Departments webpage on security for. The Public Ministry also has a Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. The law provides citizens the right to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on nearly universal and equal suffrage. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape, including spousal rape. The Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated abuses by police forces. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Some NGOs and political parties reported irregularities, including late delivery of technology needed to transmit results, late opening of the polls, poll workers with varying degrees of preparation and knowledge of the electoral law and processes, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. Nevertheless, discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons throughout society persisted. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - United States Department of Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . Criminal groups, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes and committed acts of homicide, torture, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, intimidation, and other threats and violence directed against human rights defenders, judicial authorities, lawyers, business community members, journalists, bloggers, women, and other vulnerable populations. 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. . International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. 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. A lower court provisionally dismissed Rubs fraud charge on September 20, and the Public Ministry appealed the decision. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. 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. Corruption: On June 10, Marco Bogrn, former director of INVEST-H, the government entity tasked with making COVID-19 pandemic relief contracts with private firms, was found guilty of aggravated fraud and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 1.475 billion lempiras ($58.7 million). Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Publishing or Credit card skimming is common. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. 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, f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. 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. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. 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. ET on January 31, 2022. Under the inspection law, the Secretariat of Labor has the authority to temporarily shut down workplaces where there is an imminent danger of fatalities. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, and asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. He was allegedly killed while antigang unit officials tried to arrest him for assaulting a police officer at a soccer match on May 29. On July 4, alleged members of the 18th Street gang killed six fellow gang members at the El Pozo maximum security prison in Ilama, Santa Brbara Department. 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. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. CONADEH reported 31 cases of alleged torture or cruel and inhuman treatment by security forces through August, while the Public Ministry received 10 such reports through July. 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. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence. 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. While the risk from crime in Honduras remains a concern, most U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Honduras are unaffected by violence and visit for tourism or humanitarian aid work without incident. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - DocsLib Congressional Research Service - Honduras - 2019, 2020. Gangs control some of the taxi services. The government failed to control pervasive gang-related violence and criminal activity within the prisons. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The law prohibits and criminalizes all forms of forced labor, but the government did not effectively implement or enforce the law. The government attempted to enhance its response to domestic violence by elevating the National Womens Institute to a cabinet-level secretariat in March. Bureau of Diplomatic Security - United States Department of State The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over security forces. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. Medical personnel held nationwide strikes and protests on March 30, April 20-30, May 31, and in certain regions on October 24. 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. According to the Honduran Commission for Human Rights (Conadeh), 75 people died in attacks against the public transport service in Honduras between January and July 2019. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The Secretariat of Labor and Social Security also requires that union leaders be employed under permanent contracts, limiting the ability of seasonal agricultural workers to exercise their right to freedom of association. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - United States Department of Limited inspections could facilitate movements of terrorists. Is the MS13 in Honduras Expanding its Role in the - InSight Crime Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit the participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process, and they did participate. 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. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. There is also a Human Rights Committee in the National Congress. Avoid using. 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. Violence and Harassment: On May 26, unknown assailants shot and killed Metro TV journalist Ricardo vila in Marcovia, Choluteca Department. The repeal went into effect on June 28. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons: NGOs reported police or other government agents incited, perpetrated, condoned, or tolerated violence against LGBTQI+ individuals. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. 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. By law, workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. 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. Powerful special interests, including criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. PDF Honduras 2018 Crime & Safety Report - WordPress.com Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). 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. Tasked with securing diplomacy and protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents, the Diplomatic Security Service has the largest global reach of any U.S. federal law enforcement agency, with offices in 29 U.S. cities and in more than 270 locations around the world. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Major urban centers and drug trafficking routes experienced the highest rates of violence. The most recent national and local elections were held in November 2021. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce these rights. According to data (most recent available) from the government and UNHCR, more than 247,000 persons were displaced by violence between 2014 and 2018, of whom 43 percent were children and adolescents. 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. 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. 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. The Jewish community numbered approximately 150 members. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI+ nightclubs. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. 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 law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights. The purpose of the labor stoppage and demonstrations was to denounce the nonpayment of wages by the Secretariat of Health and other issues. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. Authorities charged two individuals with her murder, one of whom remained at large. In most prisons, only inmates who purchased bottled water or had water filters in their cells had access to potable water. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. La Ceiba, Trujillo) and major hotels; other tourist installations have increased private and police security. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported two arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. In addition, the law limits strikes in a wide range of sectors that the government designates as essential services or that it considers would affect the rights of individuals in the larger community to security, health, education, and economic and social well-being. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. 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. 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.