Its a massive issue. In January 2020, the OHCHR released a report saying that the armed forces and military police had used excessiveeven lethalforce in response to the protests that followed the 2017 election. 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 The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. The new criminal code that came into effect in June 2020 includes new alternative sanctions to detention for some minor crimes that could help reduce the prison population. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. Honduran soldiers wearing facemasks guard the entrance to the city of San Pedro Sula during the coronavirus crisis on April 17, 2020. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. I wouldnt dare to say that [extortion] has skyrocketed because it has been so high for many years, said Leticia Salomn, a sociologist and researcher with the Documentation Center of Honduras. This is when things can get sketchy. Independent travel is going to require A LOT of being careful. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. There are alsopassenger ferriesif you want to go totheBay Islands. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. Honduras | Today's latest from Al Jazeera Honduras Peru pulls ambassador from Honduras amid regional criticism Peru has struggled with diplomatic isolation as left-wing. Take theBay Islands,for example. For example, theBay Islandsaresaferthan the mainland. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Biodiversity is a huge part of Honduras. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. Share this via Printer, As More Climate Chaos Looms, Slashing Fossil Fuels Is Key. Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. Instead, buy an eSIM! TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? According to a State Department report last year, there are up to 10,000 gang members in Honduras, a country with roughly 8 million people. Security experts are divided on how much the perception is the result of sensationalist media coverage, a real rise, a little of both or simply the continued expansion of a problem that has metastasized for two decades. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. In October, the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), of which Cceres was president, complained of continued delays and a lack of transparency in the case. San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city, not just in Honduras, but in the whole world. Feb. 21, 2023, at 6:11 p.m. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time. Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing. Schools were closed from March onward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Here's a list of 14: 1. The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. Honduras may sound scary, but if you take into account the advice of locals, plan ahead, and use your common sense,Honduras will open up to you as a solo female traveler. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. In July, police arrested two men in connection to the 2020 killings of 45 TV reporter Germn Vallecillo Jr. and his cameraman, Jorge Posas, in La Ceiba. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. Historically, governments have responded with iron-fist security strategies to combat organized crime, enacting tougher legislation and increasing police presence and mass detentions. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Honduras. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 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. Prisons saw significant Covid-19 outbreaks. This Central American country actually has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Honduras isnt perfectly safe for tourists, but that doesnt mean that you can travel there or have a good time. The law also sanctions abortion providers. Share this via LinkedIn Hondurans are warm and welcoming people whohave to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime, FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. And that is pretty cool. 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. The mission in early December was ostensibly to raid a casa loca, an abandoned home used by gang members. Its a country with a big heart. All rights reserved. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Violence has long ruled here. World Nomads mission is to support and encourage travellers to explore their boundaries. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. 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. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. But Honduras is far from Eden. led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. Honduras and theUS signed anasylum cooperative agreement in 2019, whereby Honduras agreed to receivenon-Honduran asylum-seekerstransferred by the US. The effort comes amid complaints by business owners, the transportation sector and ordinary Hondurans that extortion by criminals has risen in recent months. This is due to negotiationsbetween criminal groups and the government, and possibly because of economic aid from the US. 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. 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. 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. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced between 2004 and 2018, the Honduran government reported, and more than 75,000 Hondurans sought asylum abroad in 2017. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Police raid a house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on 8 December. Gangsplay a big part of life here. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. FILE - Honduras' President Xiomara Castro addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2022. Nope. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Her words echo those of Bukele, who has railed against human rights groups, government watchdogs and journalists who have questioned his tactics, saying that they are on the side of the gangs. 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. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. The Belize Under-19 Women's National Team (U-19 BWNT) is travelling to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Friday, March 3 to compete in the 2023 Central American Football Union (UNCAF) FIFA Forward Under . Copyright International Rescue Committee, 2023. crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean, top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, calling for stronger international cooperation, 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid, 36% of funding received for 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, 937,000 disaster-induced displacements in 2020, 3.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2022. The criminal justice system regularly fails to hold those responsible for homicides to account. Dont put yourself through that stress. In the 2010s, Honduras' homicide rate skyrocketed, peaking in 2011 and slowly declining since. Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas. Violence: Honduras reached a . ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. And taxi driversprobably wont have enough change to cover a big bill, socarry small denominations. Radio taxisare always a better option than hailing one off the street. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras 18th Street, also known as Calle 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply La 18 in Central America, is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization that started as a street gang in Los Angeles.It is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with 65,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America and is also allied . Thats why we listed the no-go areas in Honduras below. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. This perception has grown despite a slight reduction in homicides this year, according to preliminary data, and a significant drop over the past decade since Honduras held the ignominious title of the worlds most violent country. FromLimonestoLa Union, fromGualacotoSan Esteban,and fromLa EsperanzatoGraciasThese routes can bedangerous. 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. Drug trafficking gangs, corruption, and extreme poverty keep Honduras down. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Youll need to be a confident traveler. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Honduras. The Supreme Court had upheld Romeros 10-year sentencein January 2020. Violence in Honduras is usually attributed to gangs and organised crime, but US federal prosecutors have implicated high-level politicians, the military and police in cocaine trafficking to the US . We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. The flavors, spices and. Honduras has the misfortune of being situated between South American cocaine production and U.S. drug consumption. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. Extortion and Sexual Violence: Womens Unspoken Suffering, Loan Sharking Grows in Costa Rica by Piggybacking on Drug Trafficking, Extortion of Guatemalas Red Buses: Where Gang and Elite Criminal Interests Meet, The Lucky Kingpin: How Chepe Diablo Has (So Far) Ridiculed Justice, Guatemala's Mafia State and the Case of Mauricio Lpez Bonilla, University Deans and Guatemalas Convoluted Road to a New Attorney General, GameChangers 2022: Drug Bonanza Amid Prohibition Challenges in 2023, Honduras' State of Exception May Set Worrying Precedent, Why Money Launderers in Honduras May Be Getting Away With It, Military Arsenals Provide Convenient Source of Weapons for Latin American Gangs, Extortion in Northern Triangle Worth Over $1 Billion Annually: Report, Latin American Leaders Voice Security Concerns At United Nations General Assembly. San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has been given the unfortunate title of the most dangerous city in the world. Subscribe. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in . El Salvador and Honduras have been condemned by the "civilized" world. So how do they do it?. And Honduras has been struggling to build representative democracy, to fight corruption and crime. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. Of 25,000 gang members in 2012, nearly a fifth were children, UNICEF estimated. Please donate. A . 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. With all of its branches of government and its armed forces plagued by corruption, Honduras has evolved into a transit nation in which criminal groups, protected by the political system, have developed the capacity to produce cocaine hydrochloride in local laboratories. I believe that [Bukeles] leadership is increasing, because the tendency of the Bukele government is to become Central American, and to exercise leadership in all of Central America, said Moreno. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. 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. Well Public transportation can be alittle trickyin Honduras, and its not always safe. Gangs exercise territorial control over neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. Youll also have to take care that your children dont stay in the sun fortoo long. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. Established in 2016 by the government and the Organization of American States (OAS), theMACCIHcontributed to the prosecution of 133 people, including congresspeople and senior officials, 14 of whom faced criminal trials. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Its just that easy. Our work is costly and high risk. After a 2019 wave of gang violence that killed 37 detainees, President Hernndez declared a state of emergency and put prisons under military control. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. In 2013, Honduras reformed the penal code to recognize femicide as a crime. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. Is your phone eSIM ready? Weve made it pretty clear that Honduras isnt the safest country. Every dollar supports our mission. We are going to eradicate extortion in every corner of our country.. Theres a lot of fresh fish in places like, Steer clear of anything that you cant peel yourself. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Read more about the top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, learn how the IRC selected these countries, and download the full 2022 Emergency Watchlist report for data citations and profiles of all 20 crisis countries on the IRC's list. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. Suddenly you find yourself surrounded by backpackers, dive shops, hostels, burger shacks, smoothie stands, and pirate bars. Almost 110,000 Hondurans were returned in 2019, mostly from Mexico. With all the threats of violence, theres alow number of tourists, so oddly you can really have anauthentic experiencehere while getting to know Honduran women, too. So, yeah. For now, there are 15,000 taxis who want your attention. The food in Honduras is super tasty. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News 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. You dont know how clean the persons hands are whos been peeling and chopping the, Dont go TOO in on the food when you first arrive, especially if you get ill from food quite easily. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The MS13 and Barrio 18 street gangs control urban neighborhoods in the countrys two major cities Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and rural towns close to the border with El Salvador. Here is available the most popular Honduras Newspapers list. More information. We also provide critical, up-to-date information and support from trained moderators through CuntaNos, a digital platform that is part of the Global Signpost project. There is limited data on the effectiveness of the program in Honduras. So keep that in mind and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. But if you meet the local ladies andlearn about their livesyoure going to have a VERY enriching experience on your hands. There are 37 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and all 18 provinces are. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. Honduras may have one of the highest murder rates in the world, and as a solo female traveler, that doesnt sound very inviting as a destination. 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 gangs amid high levels of violence. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. If a restaurant or eatery of any sort looks busy, thats probably because its good, both in terms of taste and. As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime. Corruption, crime, and gang activity inhibits the ability to conduct business activities freely and dissuades entrepreneurs from establishing new businesses. The Gordon Ramsay Honduras Video Just last week the BBC affiliated chef published a video of Honduras. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. In March 2020, the government declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, imposing a lockdown and restricting movement and freedom of expression. Its a wild world out there. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education for many children. ACNUR acoge con satisfaccin la aprobacin de la ley sobre desplazamiento interno en Honduras Format News and Press Release Source. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. This rule especially goes at night. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). Click here to read the full story: 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison. 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. So no. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. Dont drink the water without treating, and steer clear of ice cubes,too. The IRC serves people and families in vulnerable situations or at increased risk for violence and displacement, including those who are uprooted by violence or returning after seeking safety in other countries. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. if youre visiting Honduras, you will have to avoid this city completely. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. 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. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. Many women are choosing to flee the violence in their communities. But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. In September, the OHCHR and IACHR expressed concern regarding the continued spread of the virus in prisons. Do your own research. Were not going to say its thesafest place to travel,nor is it going to be the easiestplace to travel as a solo female. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. Wed,03/01/23-8:26AM, 3 Reads. The storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. People are frisked in Tegucigalpa on 26 November. 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. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. 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.. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. But travelers DO take these buses. 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