fbpx

osac crime and safety report honduras

    osac crime and safety report honduras

    Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupn, Lenca, Maya-Chort, and Nahua. Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. Gang activity, including attacks on and exploitation of nonmembers, was the primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. Child Abuse: The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. The Public Ministry also has a Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. Despite incremental progress, government capacities remained relatively nascent and limited. Birth registration was provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. The law mandates that authorities release detainees whose cases have not yet come to trial and whose time in pretrial detention already exceeds the maximum prison sentence for their alleged crime. These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. Since its inception in 2016, MACCIH has worked with the Public Ministry to achieve success on several significant cases, including against current and former public officials. The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. The National Prison Institute reported that as of October 13, the total prison population was 19,619 in 25 prisons and one detention center. 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. It was unclear how many of these threats were related to the victims professions or activism. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. 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. The law prohibits the use of children younger than 18 for exhibitions or performances of a sexual nature or in the production of pornography. 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. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. As of August, CONADEH had received 35 complaints. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape, including spousal rape. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. 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. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: There were no reports of unnecessary surgeries performed on intersex persons. for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. 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. Authorities continued to investigate the incident. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. The law permits fines, and the penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. Although the country experiences one of its lowest homicide rates in the last decade, authorities recorded 3,496 violent . Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Both the secretariat and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. 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. On September 22, the court in a preliminary hearing charged Eber Ezequiel Espinoza and Erick David Macas Rodrguez with quadruple homicide. The Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated abuses by police forces. On January 13, National Police officials in Trujillo, Coln Department, allegedly detained and tortured Luis Alberto Gutirrez and Leonard Brown, beating Gutirrez and Brown in the police station. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Unions also raised concerns that employers used temporary contracts to prevent unionization and to avoid providing full benefits. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony. There were numerous reports of government corruption. 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. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The Jewish community numbered approximately 150 members. In addition, a lack of implementing regulations leads to long delays in the awarding of titles in some regions. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. 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. 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. The Public Ministry reported 11 cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. Honduras received support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation in the development of an e-procurement platform and public procurement auditing. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. 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 freedom of expression and media, including threats to media members by criminal elements; 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. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. These crimes may have been the result of tips from sources surveilling the airport arrival area. 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. 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. Review OSACs report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. The law does not criminalize domestic violence but provides penalties of up to 12 years in prison for violence against a family member, depending on the severity of the assault and aggravating circumstances. 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. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. The law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion or affiliation, marital status, race or ethnicity, national origin, language, place of residence, religion, family or economic situation, disability, or health, including HIV or AIDS status. 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. Animals and people wander onto the roads. Nevertheless, discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons throughout society persisted. 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). CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. The law does not authorize pretrial detention for crimes with a maximum sentence of five years or less. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. 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. Transgender women were particularly vulnerable to employment and education discrimination; many could find employment only as sex workers, increasing their vulnerability to violence and extortion. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. Counterfeit medicines are available in, (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in, Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. Victims were primarily impoverished individuals in both rural and urban areas (see section 7.c.). See the Department of Labors Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. 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. There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment. CONAPREV reported every prison had a functioning health clinic with at least one medical professional, but basic medical supplies and medicines were in short supply throughout the system. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Vehicles often drive at night without adequate lighting. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 33 cases of arbitrary arrest through August. Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing, . Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. It stipulates that a prosecutor has 24 additional hours to decide if there is probable cause for indictment, whereupon a judge has 24 more hours to decide whether to issue a temporary detention order. Crime Threats As of August, inspectors conducted 14,221 total inspections, compared with 8,846 total inspections for the same period in 2021. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. 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. The legal age of consent is 18. The repeal went into effect on June 28. Honduras and U.S. Relations. 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. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Todd J. In-country Movement: There were areas where authorities could not assure freedom of movement because of criminal activity and a lack of significant government presence. 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. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation like U.S. States), includingAtlntida, Coln, Corts, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, andYoro. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Persons with disabilities, Indigenous and Afro-descendant persons, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with HIV or AIDS also faced discrimination in employment and occupation (also see section 6). The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. The law allows only local unions to call strikes, prohibits labor federations and confederations from calling strikes, and requires that a two-thirds majority of both union and nonunion employees at an enterprise approve a strike. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. Others reported direct acts of intimidation or threats of violence from government officials or supporters for publicly being critical of the government. 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. The trial on murder charges of Josu Exequiel Martnez, Siriaco Meja Santos, Francisco Lpez Lazo, and Mario Anbal Lpez Velsquez began on November 25. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. Many employers discriminated against women. According to the report, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. The law permits workers in public health care, social security, staple food production, and public utilities (municipal sanitation, water, electricity, and telecommunications) to strike if they continue to provide basic services. 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. Litigants may sue a criminal defendant for damages if authorized by a criminal court. Transiting migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations continued to face acute security risks in border zones. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Credit card skimming is common. The governments National Policy to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination seeks to promote equality and combat discrimination related to the countrys two Afro-descendent and seven Indigenous groups (see below), with a focus on social and political participation; access to education, health care, justice, and employment opportunities; and rights to ancestral lands and natural resources. NGOs reported 33 violent deaths as of October and 17 hate crimes against LGBTQI+ persons as of August. 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. 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. Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters or events. According to CONAPREV, the system was designed for approximately 13,000 inmates. 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. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras.

    Australian Cattle Dog In Iowa, State Of Survival Plasma Building Requirements, Articles O

    Abrir chat
    😀 ¿Podemos Ayudarte?
    Hola! 👋