CICESCT maintained a public website and launched social media accounts to share information on human trafficking with the public. U.S. citizens should exercise caution while sailing or mooring in Honduran waters. Compare Roatan with: . An NGO noted courts continued to delay trafficking cases despite a requirement in the anti-trafficking law to process such cases in a timely manner, an issue further exacerbated by the pandemic. Yes, despite all the historical crime and violence, which don't affect tourists, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2023. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. 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. Last update: October 2022. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. Honduras is a destination for child sex tourists from Canada and the United States. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. First responders referred potential trafficking victims to CICESCTs immediate response team, composed of two psychologists and a social worker, for immediate support. CICESCT referred 37 victimsfive boys, 22 girls, and 10 womento government and NGO shelters for additional care. The government reported 41 calls to the CICESCT hotline led to 22 potential cases referred for investigation. Cattrachas, a lesbian feminist human rights group in Honduras's capital of Tegucigalpa, said 405 LGBTQ people have been reported killed in the country since 2009, according to the Blade. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Honduran law allowed foreign victims to receive temporary or permanent residency status, including authorization to work, though the government did not identify any foreign victims in 2020. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. The main problems are related to corruption, robbery, and vandalism. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. The government provided 31 victims with witness protection services including measures to protect their identity; shelter; and economic, medical and psychosocial assistance. Is Honduras Safe to Visit in 2023? | Travellers Total Local Production. Through this initiative I can be a spokesperson for women who experience this type of violence and I can use my platforms to inform and raise awareness about the issue in a male-dominatedsociety where we normalize this type of situation, said Massay Crisantho, who is and activist and advocate for the human rights and the culture of the Garifunaethnic community. Although Copan, Roatan/Bay Islands, and other tourist destinations have a lower crime rate than other parts of the country, thefts, break-ins, assaults, and murders do occur. The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras BARRIO 18 / 17 JAN 2023 To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. "Honduras: Death of Keyla Martnez demands prompt, exhaustive and impartial investigation", 9 February Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. Although many tourists come to this city, there is a high crime rate, which is worth remembering when planning a trip to this city. Caption: Honduras has the highest femicide rates in Latin America. Avoid non-essential travel to the following areas and departments due to instances of violent crime, increased gang activity and violent demonstrations: within 20 km of the border with Guatemala with the exception of Copn Ruinas. Crime Information for Tourists in Honduras Crime is widespread in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors and residents alike. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. CICESCT reported using online training platforms to educate stakeholders on the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on trafficking trends and how to adapt. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Visas - Most countries do not need a visa in order to enter Honduras for any stays shorter than 30 days.Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your date of arrival. There is no evidence suggesting criminals specifically target U.S. citizens, but foreigners have been targeted for crime due to their perceived wealth. When possible, travel in groups. A review of crime statistics from the Honduran national police shows that violent crimes are more prevalent in the Departments of Francisco Morazn and Corts. Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. Honduras sees 318 cases of femicide in 2021: Report - Anadolu Ajans Honduras - United States Department of Justice For fire and public safety emergencies, dial 911. 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. All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses. According to a report published in June 2020 by the Network Against Anti-Union Violence, 36 trade unionists were murdered between 2009 and 2019. Criminals and pickpockets target visitors as they enter and depart airports and hotels, so visitors should consider carrying their passports and valuables in a concealed pouch. 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. Individuals should also limit the sharing of personal information and closely screen personal employees. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. Mass protests and the government's heavy-handed response have damaged the economy and sparked deadly . Union leaders and labor activists in both the public and private sector face harassment, dismissal, and violence for their activities. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Although the trend has decreased as of 2014, Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. In 2012, a U.S. citizen reported that his boat was boarded and his passengers were the victims of an armed robbery while sailing in Honduran waters near Puerto Cortes, three miles north of Punta Sal. 1. . 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. The Honduran government conducts occasional joint police/military patrols in major cities in an effort to reduce crime. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Major cities (e.g. Ecuador Crime. Safety and crime information on Ecuador | CountryReports If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. 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. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. CICESCT provided 76,970 lempiras ($3,080) to an NGO operating a shelter that accommodated women, girls, and boys up to age 12 and dedicated 318,040 lempiras ($12,720) to victims immediate needs including food, hygiene supplies, and lodging. If you use our chart images on your site or blog, we ask that you provide attribution via a link back to this page. 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. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. According to the Global Peace Index, the island of Roatan, as a part of Honduras, shares its ranking of 123 out of 163 countries analyzed. Civil society continues to advocate for this law to be passed and the United Nations has joined in these efforts. honduras crime and safety report 2022. 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. The government did not report penalizing any employment agencies for fraudulent recruitment practices or charging recruitment fees to workers. Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables. Migrants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, and South America who transit Honduras en route to the United States are vulnerable to being exploited in trafficking. Alerts and Messages - U.S. Embassy in Honduras Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. We have provided a few examples below that you can copy and paste to your site: Your image export is now complete. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well- known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Travel advice and advisories for Honduras Article 219 of the Honduran penal code, which came into effect in June 2020, criminalized sex and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of five to eight years imprisonment. Criminal organizations, including gangs, exploit girls in sex trafficking, force children into street begging, and coerce and threaten children and young adults to transport weapons, sell drugs, commit extortion, or serve as lookouts; this occurred primarily in urban areas, but one NGO reported an increase in gang activity in rural areas. Limited inspections could facilitate movements of terrorists. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. 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. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. . The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. Incidents of piracy off the coast of Honduras can occur. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. Of November 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 crimes are carried out by acting., 2022, in Uvalde, Texas in Action - Honduras /a > Qatar iverson house . 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. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. Copan, Roatan/Bay Islands, and other tourist destinations have lower crime rates than other parts of the country. Republic of Honduras - United States Department of Justice There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as Barrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. While many protests remain relatively peaceful, demonstrations can escalate into violent confrontations with the police resulting in destruction to public and private property. Crime in Roatan, Honduras. Since 1995, 115 U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras; of these, just 32 cases have been resolved. However, the government lacked formal procedures for identifying victims among children apprehended for gang-related criminal activity. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us. Organized 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,