And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. His security-at-all costs approach, and the reductions in violence and crime that have come with it, have found a captive audience in Honduras, but caused consternation among civil society, and closed down discussion of other options. If a restaurant or eatery of any sort looks busy, thats probably because its good, both in terms of taste and. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education for many children. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). We provide specialized support for survivors of gender-based violence; create safe spaces for women, youth and the LGBTQ+ community; and also offer psychosocial counseling and social work support. A law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting childrentook effect in 2019. Hondurass prison population has doubled over the past decade, partly due to a 2013 reform that greatly expanded the use of mandatory pre-trial detention. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras,even with their families. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. Often, people with disabilities are threatened and subjected to extortion by criminal gangs. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. It was Zelaya's intention to seek a second term that coup leaders. Hardline policies, meanwhile, are popular because people think that theyre going to work but inevitably the track record is that they havent, said Malone. It was a show: a show of force following the example set by the hardline policies of neighbouring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has led a controversial crackdown on gangs that has led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. Its just that easy. In fact, most people in Honduras have a family member in a gang. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. Note that they are generally safe to visit during the day (with a bit of caution obviously), especially if you have a local guide, but should be fully avoided at night. So no. It included provisions that appeared aimed at reducing penalties for politicians linked to organized crime, by lowering sentences for corruption and related offenses. World Nomads mission is to support and encourage travellers to explore their boundaries. 2023, The Broke Backpacker. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. All rights reserved. Look and see where locals are eating. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. This rule especially goes at night. Extortions generate annual profits of up to $737 million for gangs, nearly 3% of the country's gross domestic product, according to data from Association for a More Just Society, a security-focused non-governmental organization. Honduras isnt different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that youre never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. In Honduras, steps were taken to demilitarize public security forces and a community policing model was announced, with the hope being that the measures would increase public trust in an institution that has historically been dogged by corruption and infiltrated by the very same organized crime groups it is supposed to combat. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. And theyre generally safe. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. Enjoy your travels! Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Officials were called out to the main Wood Duck Recreation Area at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday to investigate a suspicious vehicle, a ccording to a release from the Sheriff's Office. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. Planning a safe trip to Honduras can get quite overwhelming. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Although there is a law that provides higher penalties for bias-based crimes, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, the Attorney Generals office told Human Rights Watch in September 2020 that no one has been convicted under the law. 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. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. City busestravel around the cities and towns themselves. Just in case, thats No quiero compartir el taxi.. Overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, beatings, intra-gang violence, and detainee killings are endemic in prisons. San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city, not just in Honduras, but in the whole world. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. There are quite a few cute Airbnbs in Honduras, and as long as you stay in one of the safer neighborhoods, wed say that renting an Airbnb is perfectly safe. Chronic violence, climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19 have deepened humanitarian needs and driven displacement. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. These are the things to avoid in Honduras: Avoid looking wealthy or like a tourist Avoid the beaches after dark Dont use ATMs at night Stay away from drugs. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. Its a mix of European, indigenous and Caribbean influence, and youll love it. EIN number 13-5660870. Wed,03/01/23-8:26AM, 3 Reads. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered to be largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. After irregularities and delays, the trial of David Castillo, one of the men accused of planning the 2016 killing of environmental activist Berta Cceres, began in September 2020. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. CNN Juan Orlando Hernndez, the former president of Honduras, appeared virtually for his initial US court appearance Friday on federal drug trafficking and firearms possession charges.. On average, children living in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are 10 times more likely to be killed than a child who lives in the United States. This is due to negotiationsbetween criminal groups and the government, and possibly because of economic aid from the US. Activistssaythegovernments Mechanism for the Protection of Journalists, Human Rights Defenders and Operators of Justice, created in 2015, lacks uniform criteria and is ineffective. TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight. Our work is costly and high risk. The streets of major cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are gripped by crime and conflict. And this area is great for children. Honduran soldiers wearing facemasks guard the entrance to the city of San Pedro Sula during the coronavirus crisis on April 17, 2020. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Iris Argentina lvarez of the Cerro Escondido peasant cooperative, which has been working to recover land currently owned by a sugar company, was killed and three people were injured during a violent and allegedly illegal eviction in Choluteca in April 2020. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. Along with Honduras, the IRC also identified Haiti and Venezuela as the countries most at risk of experiencing deteriorating humanitarian crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean. The criminal justice system regularly fails to hold those responsible for homicides to account. Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. His unit was headed to the Hole a labyrinthine neighbourhood of narrow streets, whose nickname was originally coined because of its location between sharp hillsides, but which has taken on a new meaning as a place where gang members disappear. As expected, the video went viral and the local newspapers made sure they put this trusted news source on their front page. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. Xiomara should hurry up and go after all those gang members, said Isidora Varela, 70, at her market stand in downtown Tegucigalpa. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. So, yeah. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. All of these are in Santa Barbara Department, which also sees hijackings aroundTela, La Ceiba, andEl Progresoas well asTrujillo. There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. (KCAU) The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said that they've cited two men who allegedly killed an American Bald Eagle. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Just 18 percent of Hondurans have internet access in their homes and a quarter of homes in rural areas dont have electricity. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. The country has the second-highest rate of femicidedefined as the killing of a woman by a man because of her genderin Latin America, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reports. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran authorities reported on Monday the discovery of more than 1.6 million coca leaf bushes in the most important. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. Also in February, the OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Honduras to decriminalize defamation and to properly investigate killings of journalists. Journalists, environmental activists,lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals,and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted forviolence. Bukeles example resonates in societies with a fragile institutional framework and with a tendency towards populism and authoritarianism, said Ismael Moreno, a human rights defender. Prisons saw significant Covid-19 outbreaks. Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). Individuals and state agents continute to threaten and attack journalists, press freedom groups report. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. Theres a lot to learn about Honduras that goes beyond gangs and beaches. The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras, Death, Taxes, and Extortion: Why Latin American Companies Keep Paying Up, Timber Mafias - Preying on Latin Americas Forests, State and Community Responses to Extortion, A Mayor and a Wave of Narco Violence on Guatemala's Pacific, One Party, Many Crimes: The Case of Honduras National Party, Drug Trafficking and Political Protection in Paraguay: The Case of Cucho Cabaa, How Colombia Regulators Became Purveyors of Illegal Wood, The Logging Barons of Catacamas, Honduras, How Drug Cartels Moved into Illegal Logging in Mexico, Municipalities Fight Back in Guatemalas Gang-Preyed Upon Neighborhoods, How the Private Sector Helped Counter Rural Extortion in El Salvador. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? Gangs attacking other gangs. Earlier this year, Honduras appeared set to follow an example set by another neighbor, Nicaragua, whose community-based policing approach was for years hailed for maintaining exceptionally low crime rates and minimal gang presence until the government turned the police into a repressive force against the people amid widespread protests in 2018. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. Testimony provided by drug traffickers and Honduran politicians on trial in the United States have revealed the deep-seated connection between organized crime and the governing National Party. So keep that in mind and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. Its prettyextreme. From 2011 to 2017, the number of killings in Honduras actually dropped, from 87 per 100,000 to 44. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal. A Honduran woman and her children manage to cross the remnants of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Iota. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. Nevertheless, the political gains to be had from emulating Bukeles hardline policies may be too enticing to pass up. This year a crew member of a cruise ship was murdered on Roatan and that combined with the mainland of the country being used by cartels as part of the drug pipeline to the U.S., plus the current immigration crisis on the U.S. border all together add up to bad press for the country of Honduras. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. crime Mayor and Retired Honduras National Police Sub-Commissioner Arrested for Organized Crime Involvement By Hector Martinez on February 24, 2016 crime, extortion, gangs, mara, MaraSalvatrucha, ms13, MS18, murder, narcotics, OrganizedCrime, salvatrucha General Honduras News, Headline News Hondurans are warm and welcoming people whohave to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. It submitted the case to the court in April 2019 due to Honduras lack of compliance with its recommendations, such as introducing comprehensive policies to map and prevent anti-LGBT violence and designing training programs on anti-LGBT violence for state security bodies. With just 39% of the population fully vaccinated as of December 2021, the health risks associated with the pandemic will remain a concern long into 2022. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. Abortionisillegalin Honduras in all circumstances. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. President Xiomara Castro, center, with the minister of defense, Jose Manuel Zelaya, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Jos Jorge Fortn, at a military ceremony in Tegucigalpa on 9 December. An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. That measure has proved popular among the public in El Salvador, and has resulted in the arrest of more than 56,000 people for alleged gang ties. In terms of murder rate, it's the second most violent country in Central or South America, trailing only Venezuela. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. In June, the OHCHR and IACHR jointly expressed concern that the new penal code disproportionately restricts freedoms of speech, press, and association and fails to criminalize torture committed by third parties acting on behalf of state agents. At nighttime, you should really get a taxi. Share this via Telegram That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Please donate. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. Marvin Damin Castro Molina, who, as part of the Coordination of the Southern Social Environmental Movement for Life, fought mining, agro-industry, and hydroelectric projects, was abducted and found dead in Choluteca in July 2020. This social democratic government is declaring war on extorsion, just as it has, since the first day, declared wars on corruption, impunity and drug trafficking," Castro said. Share this via Twitter Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. Hondurashas endorsed the World Health OrganizationsSolidarity Call to Action for the Covid-19 Technology Access Pool, an initiative to realize equitable global access to COVID-19 health technologies through pooling of knowledge, intellectual property and data., Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Freedom of Expression, Association, and Assembly, Attacks on Lawyers, Human Rights Defenders, and Environmental Activists, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Violence Against Women, Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced People, Bidens Challenge: Redeeming a US Role for Human Rights, Addressing the Climate Crisis in Times of Pandemic, From Flight Logs to Homeschooling, Human Rights Watch Grapples with Covids Challenges, As Online Gender-Based Violence Booms, Governments Drag Their Feet, The Other Pandemic: Fighting Inequality as We Beat Back Covid, Poverty, Pandemic, Police Violence: Ongoing Crises Demand the US Address Pervasive Racism. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras Honduras and theUS signed anasylum cooperative agreement in 2019, whereby Honduras agreed to receivenon-Honduran asylum-seekerstransferred by the US. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
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